2025 ACC Champs: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2025 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships

• February 18-22, 2025
• Greensboro Aquatic Center — Greensboro, North Carolina
• Full Event Schedule (pre-scratch timeline)
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Streaming
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap |Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap

Thursday Finals Heat Sheet

It’s a relatively short finals session tonight, as there will only be three swimming events, and no relays.

The night will begin with the finals of the women’s 400 IM. UVA freshman Katie Grimes will be in lane 4 and swimming for her second individual title after winning the 500 free last night. Fellow Cavalier freshman Leah Hayes will be swimming next to her in lane 5, setting up what could be a fun battle between the two teammates.

Next up will be there men’s 400 IM, where Louisville’s Tommy Bried was the only man under 3:40 this morning, clocking two second lifetime best of 3:39.28. Keep an eye on lane 2, though, where 2024 champions Kyle Ponsler of NC State will be swimming.

Gretchen Walsh, the fastest women ever in the 100 fly, opted out of that event this week, but tonight’s final will still feature three big names in Alex Walsh, Claire Curzan, and Torri Huske. Curzan, who’s in lane 4 tonight, holds a lifetime best of 49.24, which she swam while breaking the American Record at the age of 17 at the North Carolina State high school championships.  She’s currently the #4 performer ever, while Huske sits at #3 all-time with her lifetime best of 48.96 from the 2023 NCAA Championships.

In the men’s 100 fly, Virginia Tech fifth year Youssef Ramadan will be swimming for his fifth-straight title in this event. This is largely an experienced field — all except two of the A-final swimmers are seniors or fifth-years in the field, including 2022 NCAA champ Andrei Minakov.

Louisville, Stanford, and Virginia each put two women into the 200 free A-final, with last year’s champion Aimee Canny taking the top seed after going 1:43.08 this morning. On the men’s side, there will be a new ACC champion after Chris Giuliano, who won the last two years for Notre Dame, will be swimming for the SEC title as a Longhorn tonight. Stanford’s Henry McFadden will be in lane 4 tonight, but it could be a very tight race as the top 8 swimmers from this morning all went between 1:32.2 and 1:33.0.

Tonight’s session will conclude with the final of the women’s 3m diving event.

TEAM SCORES THRU DAY 2

WOMEN:

1. Virginia — 494.5
2. Stanford — 413
3. Louisville — 397
4. Cal — 308.5
5. UNC — 260
6. NC State — 228
7. Pitt — 201
8. Miami (FL) — 181
9. Florida State — 162
10. Duke — 138
11. Notre Dame — 132
12. Virginia Tech — 126
13. Boston College — 78
14. SMU — 76
15. Georgia Tech — 65

MEN:

1. Cal – 457
2. Stanford – 402
3. UNC – 383
4. NC State – 379
5. Louisville – 282
6. Florida State – 256.5
7. Virginia – 242
8. Virginia Tech – 221
9. Georgia Tech – 215
10. SMU – 211
11. Pitt – 201.5
12. Duke – 105
13. Boston College – 52
14. Miami (FL) – 52
15. Notre Dame – 19

Women 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018
• ACC Record: 3:55.97 – Alex Walsh (Virginia), 2024
• ACC Meet Record: 3:59.33 – Ella Nelson (Virginia), 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 4:03.62
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 4:10.74

Top 8:

1. Katie Grimes (Virginia) – 3:59.69
2. Caroline Bricker (Stanford) – 4:01.40
3. Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 4:01.70
4. Leah Hayes (Virginia) – 4:02.23
5. Emily Thompson (Stanford) – 4:06.28
6. Kathryn Hazel (Cal) – 4:07.63
7. Aislin Farris (UNC) – 4:08.60
8. Ella Bathurst (Virginia) – 4:10.89

Cavalier freshman Katie Grimes is now 2-2 for in individual ACC competition, winning the 400 IM to go along with her win in the 500 free last night. Grimes led the entire race, stopping the clock in 3:59.69. That’s just a bit off of her NCAA-leading 3:59.02 from midseason, but was more than enough to comfortably win the race.

Stanford’s Caroline Bricker, one of the other two women to go under 4:00 this season, finished 2nd in 4:01.40. Bricker went 3:59.88 at midseason, and that was the #2 time in the nation this season, although former Cavalier Emma Weyant just went 3:59.24 this evening swimming for Florida at the SEC Championships. Bricker’s teammate Lucy Bell took 3rd in 4:01.70, while another Cardinal, Emily Thompson, finished 5th in 4:06.28.

UVA also had three women in the A-final; Leah Hayes finished 4th in 4:02.23, and Ella Bathurst took 8th in 4:10.89.

Cal’s Kathryn Hazel (4:07.63) and UNC’s Aislin Farris (4:08.60) took 6th and 7th to round out the top 8.

Almost the entire A-final was under the 2024 NCAA invite time of 4:10.74, as were the top four women in the B-final. That group includes Pitt’s Kim Shannon, who appears to have set a Pitt school record with her time of 4:08.47.

Men 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand (Arizona State), 2023
• ACC Record: 3:38.00 – Gal Nevo (Georgia Tech), 2009
• ACC Meet Record: 3:38.43 – Robert Owen (Virginia Tech), 2017
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 3:38.37
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 3:42.93

Top 8:

1. Tommy Bried (Louisville) – 3:39.28
2. Kyle Ponsler (NC State) – 3:40.05
3. Ben Delmar (UNC) – 3:40.61
4. Max Matteazzi (Pitt) – 3:40.89
5. Gregg Enough (Louisville) – 3:41.57
6. Louis Dramm (UNC) – 3:42.42
7. Josh Żuchowski (Stanford) – 3:42.64
8. Jackson Millard (Louisville) – 3:46.77

2024 champion Kyle Ponsler of NC State jumped out to an early lead, and for the first half of the race it looked he was on his way to defending his title. But Louisville’s Tommy Bried, who posted the fastest time in this morning’s prelims, shot past on the second half of the breaststroke leg, and he held that lead through the freestyle leg, winning in 3:39.28.

That appears to be a personal best and a Louisville school record for Bried. He joins Daniel Sos as the only two Cardinals to win an ACC title in this event.

Ponsler touched 2nd in 3:40.05, followed by UNC’s Ben Delmar (3:40.61) and Pitt’s Max Matteazzi (3:40.89), both of whom appear to have set school records with their swims.

California’s Tyler Kopp won the B-final with a 3:40.97.

Women 100 Fly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 47.35 – Gretchen Walsh , 2024
• ACC Record: 47.42 – Gretchen Walsh (UVA), 2024
• ACC Meet Record: 48.25 – Gretchen Walsh (UVA), 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 50.52
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 51.88

Top 8:

1. Torri Huske (Stanford) – 48.52
2. Claire Curzan (Virginia)- 49.02
3. Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 50.00
4. Leah Shackley (NC State) – 50.33
5. Ella Welch (Louisville) – 50.74
6. Giulia Carvalho (Miami) – 50.91
7. Sophie Yendell (Pitt) – 51.13
8. Lilou Ressencourt (Cal) – 51.57

Reigning Olympic champion Torri Huske hit a new personal best in yards tonight, swimming the 7th-fastest performance ever with her winning time of 48.52. Huske had a 0.13s lead over UVA’s Claire Curzan at the halfway point, and extended the lead on the back half, as Curzan came in 2nd in 49.02. Huske’s previous personal best had been 48.96, while Curzan’s had been 49.24.

3rd-place finisher Alex Walsh nearly cracked the 50-second barrier herself, clocking a personal best of 50.00. NC State freshman Leah Shackley was just off of her lifetime best, going 50.33 for 4th.

Louisville’s Ella Welch got under 51 for the first time, taking 5th in 50.74. Last year she scratched this event, and instead swam the 100 breast, where she took 16th.

Miami’s Giulia Carvalho also cracked 51 for the first time today, going 50.91 for 6th tonight after going 50.99 this morning.

Pitt’s Sophie Yendell touched 7th in 51.13, followed by Cal’s Lilou Ressencourt (51.57).

Men 100 Fly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018
• ACC Record: 43.15 – Youssef Ramadan (Virginia Tech), 2023
• ACC Meet Record: 43.93 – Youssef Ramadan (Virginia Tech), 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 44.48
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 45.37

Top 9:

1. Andrei Minakov (Stanford) – 44.27
2. Michel Arkhangelskiy (FSU) 44.36
3. Dare Rose (Cal) – 44.55
4. Mario Molla Yannes (Virginia Tech) – 44.63
5. Youssef Ramadan (Virginia Tech) – 44.83
6. Luke Miller (NC State) – 44.87
7. Aaron Sequeira (Stanford) – 45.07
8. PJ Foy (UNC) – 45.33

2022 NCAA champion Andrei Minakov earned his first individual ACC title tonight with a 44.27 win against a strong field.

That field included Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan, who had won the previous ACC four titles in this event, but ended up 5th this evening in 44.83. The livestream showed Minakov and Ramadan talking for the better part of a minute after the race’s conclusion, with Ramadan appearing to congratulate Minakov.

Florida State freshman Michel Arkhangelskiy followed up his 19.1 fly split from Wednesday night with a 44.36 effort tonight, earning 2nd place and setting a new Seminoles’ record.

Cal’s Dare Rose came within a tenth of a second of his lifetime best, taking 3rd in 44.55. Ramadan’s teammate Mario Molla Yannes went under 45 for the first time, taking 5th in 44.83.

Luke Miller won the 200 free for NC State at the 2022 ACC Championships, but he’s largely focused on the 100 fly since then, including a 3rd-place finish at last year’s NCAA Championships. He finished 6th tonight in 44,87.

Stanford’s Aaron Sequeira (45.07) and UNC’s PJ Foy (45.33) finished 7th and 8th.

Women 200 Free – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin (Cal), 2015
• ACC Record: 1:39.34 – Gretchen Walsh (Virginia), 2025
• ACC Meet Record: 1:39.34 – Gretchen Walsh (Virginia), 2025
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 1:42.60
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 1:44.80

Top 8:

1. Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 1:42.00
2. Lea Polonsky (Cal) – 1:42.98
3. Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 1:43.15
4. Aurora Roghair (Stanford) – 1:43.48
5. Kayla Wilson (Stanford) – 1:43.71
6. Erika Pelaez (NC State) – 1:43.88
7. Daria Golovaty (Louisville) – 1:44.34
8. Summer Cardwell (Louisville) – 1:44.59

UVA’s Aimee Canny successfully defended her ACC title in this event, pulling ahead on the third lap and closing hard from there. Canny won with a 1:42.00, clocking a new personal best.

Cal’s Lea Polonsky took 2nd in 1:42.98, just ahead of UVA’s Anna Moesch (1:43.15) and Stanford’s Aurora Roghair (1:43.18). Roghair, the Stanford senior, actually led at the halfway point, thanks to 25.89 second lap. Her teammate Kayla Wilson finished 5th in 1:43.71.

NC State freshman Erika Pelaez finished 6th in 1:43.88, followed by Louisville teammates Daria Golovaty (1:44.34) and Summer Cardwell (1:44.59).

Men 200 Free – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson (Texas), 2024
• ACC Record: 1:30.38 – Chris Giuliano (Notre Dame), 2024
• ACC Meet Record: 1:31.16 – Chris Giuliano (Notre Dame), 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut Time: 1:31.21
• 2024 NCAA Invite Time: 1:32.93

Top 8:

1. Henry McFadden (Stanford) – 1:31.30
2. Patrick Hussey (UNC) – 1:31.68
3. Guy Brooks (Louisville) /Lucas Henveaux (Cal) – 1:32.04
4. (tie)
5. Kaii Winkler (NC State) – 1:32.23
6. Trent Frandson (Cal) – 1:32.80
7. Daniel Diehl (NC State) – 1:32.89
8. Luis Dominguez (Virginia Tech) – 1:33.05

For most of the race, it looked like the Louisville Cardinals were about to claim their second men’s win of the night, but instead, the Stanford Cardinal earned their second win of the night.

Louisville junior Guy Brooks was the only man to hit the halfway point in under 44, flipping in 43.92, and he continued to hold his lead through the third lap. But Brooks appeared to pay the price on the final lap, splitting 24.20, while Stanford’s Henry McFadden, UNC’s Patrick Hussey, and Cal’s Lucas Henveaux all closed hard with splits right around 23.4.

McFadden was in the right position for the win, getting his hand on the wall in 1:31.30 to set a new personal best and to come within 0.14s of Chris Guiliano’s meet record.

Hussey became the first Tar Heel to go under 1:32, breaking his own school record with a 2nd place time of 1:31.68.

Brooks and Henveaux tied for 3rd, both hitting the wall in 1:32.04.

NC State freshman Kaii Winkler set his third personal best in this event this week, taking 5th in 1:32.23.

Cal’s Trent Frandson (1:32.90), NC State’s Daniel Diehl (1:32.89), and Virginia Tech’s Luis Dominguez (1:33.05) rounded out the A-final.

Cal freshman Nans Mazeillier won the B-final in 1:32.00, a time that would’ve put him 3rd in the A-final.

Women’s 3m Diving – Finals

• ACC Record: 439.70 – Abby Johnston (Duke), 2010
• ACC Meet Record: 439.70 – Abby Johnston (Duke), 2010

Top 8:

1. Chiara Pellacani (Miami) – 403.15
2. Lanie Gutch (UNC) – 371.40
3. Mia Vallee (Miami) – 367.20
4. Margo Omeara (Duke) – 366.15
5. Aranza Vazquez (UNC) – 365.65
6. Samantha Vear (FSU) – 306.70
7. Kayleigh Clark (FSU) – 306.60
8. Lindsay Gizzi (Louisville) – 300.10

Miami’s Chiara Pellacani earned her first ACC against a strong field full of other ACC champions. The Miami junior stood atop the podium after out-scoring the field by over 30 points, with a total of 403.15. That’s the highest score in this event since 2011, when Duke’s Abby Johnston won with a tally of 429.05.

UNC’s Lanie Gutch took 2nd place with a score of 371.40 after finishing 4th last year. A trio of ACC diving championships took the next three spots with very little separation between them: Miami’s Mia Vallee (367.20), Duke’s Margo Omeara (366.15), and UNC’s Aranza Vazquez (365.65).

Scores Through Day 3

We’re a little over halfway through the meet, and we’re starting to see some trends emerge. Perhaps the most notable point is how well Stanford has been swimming on both sides of the meet.

The Stanford women are only 60.5 points behind the Virginia juggernaut with two days to go. The Cavaliers have plenty of depth in the next two days’ events, and it’s still their meet to lose, but it’s certainly going to be much tighter on the final day of the meet than it was last year, when UVA won by nearly 500 points. The Louisville Cardinals had another strong day and extended their hold on 3rd place over the Cal Bears.

On the men’s side, it’s not much of a surprise to see Cal leading, but it may be more surprising to see both Stanford and North Carolina ahead of NC State, the dominant force in this conference over the last decade.

Both Stanford and UNC are swimming well, but both are also getting a big boost from diving. Stanford has scored 93 diving points so far, while UNC has scored 96. Again, that’s not to discount either school’s swimmers — if our math is correct, the Tar Heels have outscored teams like Virginia Tech, UVA, and Florida States in the pool as well. There should be an interesting battle for 6th-8th shaping up over the next two days for those three schools — only 25.5 points separate the trio.

Women

Men

1. Cal – 633.5
2. Stanford – 565
3. UNC – 517
4. NC State – 501
5. Louisville – 449.5
6. VA Tech – 331
7. UVA – 306
8. Florida State – 305.5
9. Pitt – 255.5
10. SMU – 239
11. Georgia Tech – 233
12. Duke – 105
13. Boston College – 62
14. Miami – 52
15. Notre Dame – 19