2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
- Dates:
- Diving: Sunday, February 15–Tuesday, February 17
- Swimming: Tuesday, February 17–Saturday, February 21
- Location: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
- Defending champions: UVA women (6x); Cal men (1x)
- Live Results
- Live Video: ESPN+ ($)
- Schedule of Events (PDF)
- Championship Central
- Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
- Teams: Boston College, Cal, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami (women swimming & diving/men diving), NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Thursday’s prelims at the 2026 ACC Championships kick off with a loaded slate of racing, and several marquee names sit atop the early morning seed lists as title favorites. In the Women’s 400 IM, Caroline Bricker of Stanford leads a stacked field seeded fastest in the heat sheet with the only sub-4:00 entry time, but she’ll have to contend against teammate Lucy Bell and 500 free winner Katie Grimes of Virginia.
The Men’s 400 IM looks like another big battle. Louisville’s Jackson Millard has the only seed time under 3:40. Keep an eye on the UNC Tar Heels, who have been fairly quiet so far, but have at least three swimmers who could make a run at the A-final.
In the Women’s 100 fly, Stanford’s standout, and last night’s 200 IM winner, Torri Huske is the top seed, and expect to see her and UVA’s Claire Curzan duking it out side-by-side tonight for the win. On the men’s side, Michel Arkhangelskiy holds the top seed at 44.43. But UVA freshman Thomas Heilman has been under 44, and NC State’s Aiden Hayes, returning from a medical redshirt, is always dangerous.
Finally, the 200 free sessions bring another stacked heat sheet, with top seeds belonging to UVA’s Anna Moesch for the women, and FSU’s Logan Robinson on the men’s.
Women’s 40o IM – Prelims
- NCAA: 3:54.60 — Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
- ACC: 3:55.97 — Alex Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- ACC Championship Record: 3:59.33 — Ella Nelson, Virginia (2023)
- Pool: 3:57.25 — Alex Walsh, Virginia (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:09.53
Top 8:
- Katie Grimes (Virginia) – 4:03.18
- Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 4:05.50
- Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 4:05.64
- Caroline Bricker (Stanford) – 4:05.81
- Leah Hayes (Virginia) – 4:06.55
- Teagan O’Dell (Cal) – 4:07.19
- Sophia Umstead (Virginia) – 4:07.47
- Mia West (Cal) – 4:07.99
Swimming out of the first circle-seeded heat, UVA sophomore Katie Grimes put herself in position to defend her title in this event, cruising (relatively speaking) to a 4:03.18 to put her in lane 4 this evening. In heat 4, Lucy Bell of Stanford led Leah Hayes of Virginia the entire way, ultimately touching in 4:05.50 to Hayes’ 4:06.55. Bell finished 3rd in this event last year, while Hayes finished 4th.
The final heat of the morning shaped up to be a great battle in the middle of the pool. UVA’s Aimee Canny, who swam this event for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, pulled ahead of top-seeded Caroline Bricker of Stanford on the final 50, touching out Bricker, last year’s runner-up, 4:05.64 to 4:05.81.
So, the top four finishers from this event last year all return. They’ll be joined by Canny, along with freshmen Teagan O’Dell of Cal (4:07.19 and Sophia Umstead of Virginia (4:07.47), along with Cal sophomore Mia West (4:07.99).
Men’s 400 IM – Prelims
- NCAA: 3:28.82 — Léon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
- ACC: 3:36.22 — Lucas Henveaux, California (2025)
- ACC Championship Record: 3:38.43 — Robert Owen, Virginia Tech (2017)
- Pool: 3:32.88 — Hugo González, California (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 3:41.61
Top 8:
- Josh Zuchowski (Stanford) – 3:39.17
- Jackson Millard (Louisville) – 3:39.86
- Ryan Erisman (Cal) – 3:39.87
- Gregg Enoch (Louisville) – 3:41.34
- Ethan Ekk (Stanford) – 3:41.52
- Humberto Najera (Cal) – 3:41.90
- Tommy Bried (Louisville) – 3:42.26
- Louis Dramm (UNC) – 3:42.53
Stanford senior Josh Zuchowski had a big swim this morning, going not only under 3:42 for the first time, but all the way under 3:40, to post the top time of the morning. Zuchowski, who set National Age Group records in this event several times as a young age grouper, hadn’t focused on the event much at the college level until last year, when he finished 7th here at ACCs. He’ll be joined tonight by freshman teammate Ethan Ekk, who qualified 5th overall with a time of 3:41.52.
Louisville once again put three men into the A-final, including defending champion Tommy Bried, who qualified 7th with a 3:42.26. Jackson Millard, who finished 8th here last year, qualified 2nd with a 3:39.86, and Gregg Enoch sits 4th (3:41.34) after a 5th-place finish last year.
Cal freshman Ryan Erisman also ripped a big new personal best, improving from 3:42.87 to 3:39.87. Teammate Humberto Najera will join him in the A-final with a 3:41.90 after making the B-final last year.
UNC’s Louis Dramm (3:42.53) will also return to the A-final. The Tar Heel finished 6th last year.
Women’s 100 Fly – Prelims
- NCAA: 46.97 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2025)
- ACC: 46.97 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2025)
- ACC Championship Record: 48.25 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Pool: 49.09 — Alex Walsh, Virginia (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 51.87
Top 8:
- Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 49.19
- Torri Huske (Stanford) – 50.12
- Gigi Johnson (Stanford) – 50.65
- Sara Curtis (Virginia) – 50.85
- Annie Jia (Cal) – 51.11
- Tatum Wall (Duke) – 51.18
- Leah Shackley (NC State) – 51.25
- Erika Pelaez (NC State) /Ella Welch (Louisville) – 51.36
As expected, we’ll get a head-to-head rematch against last year’s top two finishers in this event, as UVA’s Claire Curzan (49.19) and Stanford’s Torri Huske (50.12) posted the top two times of the morning. Last year, Huske beat Curzan in the final, 48.52 to 49.02, and we should be in for another exciting race tonight.
Leah Shackley of NC State returns from last year’s A-final, posting a 51.25 to finish 7th this morning. We’ll have a swim-off between NC State’s Erika Pelaez and Ella Welch of Louisville, who finished 5th last year, after both touched in 51.36 to tie for the eighth spot.
**Update: Pelaez won the swimoff, 50.66 to 51.02, and will advance to tonight’s A-final.
Huske will be joined by teammate Gigi Johnson (50.65) tonight, while Sara Curtis (50.85) will give the Cavaliers another A-finalist.
Cal’s Annie Jia (51.11) and Duke’s Tatum Wall (51.18) round out the A-final.
Men’s 100 Fly – Prelims
- NCAA: 42.80 — Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
- ACC: 43.15 — Youssef Ramadan, Virginia Tech (2023)
- ACC Championship Record: 43.90 — Youssef Ramadan, Virginia Tech (2022)
- Pool: 43.71 — Andrei Minakov, Stanford (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 45.12
Top 8:
- Aiden Hayes (NC State) – 44.40
- Julian Koch (Pitt) – 44.75
- Thomas Heilman (Virginia) – 44.78
- Aiden Musso (Louisville) – 45.14
- Michel Arkhangelskiy (FSU) – 45.19 / Arsenio Bustos (NC State) – 45.19
- (tie)
- Rafael Gu (Stanford) – 45.28
- Rian Graham (Louisville) – 45.30
NC State’s Aiden Hayes blasted his best time in almost two years, and the third-fastest time of his career, with a 44.40 to put himself in lane 4 tonight. Hayes, who won the 200 fly at the 2023 NCAA Championships, went 44.35 in the 100 fly at that same meet to finish 6th overall, and that time remains his lifetime best. Teammate Arsenio Bustos, last night’s 200 IM champion, will join Hayes in the A-final after going 45.19 this morning.
Swimming two lanes over from Hayes in the final heat, Pitt’s Julian Koch rocked out to a 20.29 opening 50, and while he couldn’t match Hayes on the back half, he still had enough in the tank to finish in 44.75, good for 2nd overall, as well as a new personal best and school record.
UVA freshman Thomas Heilman was the other man under 45 this morning, as he went 44.78 to win the pentultimate heat.
Louisville continued a strong morning by putting two men into the A-final: Aiden Musso (45.15) and Rian Graham (45.30).
Last year’s breakout star at this meet, Michel Arkhangelskiy (45.19), and Stanford’s Rafael Gu (45.28) also made the top eight.
Women’s 200 Free- Prelims
- NCAA: 1:39.10 — Missy Franklin, California (2015)
- ACC: 1:39.34 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2025)
- ACC Championship Record: 1:39.34 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2025)
- Pool: 1:41.12 — Taylor Ruck, Stanford (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:44.74
*per the meet announcer, heat 5 will be reswum after the conclusion of the men’s 200 free, so we won’t have final results available until then*
Top 8 (pending heat 5):
- Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 1:41.67
- Carmen Weiler Sastre (Virginia Tech) – 1:43.05
- Madi Mintenko (Virginia) – 1:43.26
- Cavan Gormsen (Virginia) – 1:43.48
- Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 1:43.98
- Gigi Johnson (Stanford) – 1:44.02
- Bailey Hartman (Virginia) – 1:44.18
- Annam Olasewere (Stanford) – 1:44.20
It looks like the results above still stand after the re-swim.
The A-final of the 200 free will look drastically different from last year, as only one woman returns. That woman is UVA sophomore Anna Moesch, who finished 3rd last year, but should be the favorite tonight. She holds the top time nationally this season with a 1:40.25, and she went 1:41.67 to lead prelims by nearly one and a half seconds.
Cavaliers will make up half of tonight’s A-final, as Moesch will be joined by Madi Mintenko (1:43.26), Cavan Gormsen (1:43.48), and Bailey Hartman (1:43.48).
The Hokie women got their first A-finalist of the day courtesy of Carmen Weiler Sastre, who qualified 2nd overall with a time of 1:43.05; she won the B-final last year in 1:44.14.
Stanford’s Gigi Johnson (1:44.02) and Annam Olasewere give the Cardinal two women in the top eight.
Louisville will not have any A-finalists tonight after a couple of near misses. Not only did Ella Welch end up in the 100 fly B-final after the swim-off for 8th, but Daria Golovaty missed the 200 free A-final, finishing just 0.04s behind Olasewere this morning with a 1:44.24.
Men’s 200 Free – Prelims
- NCAA: 1:28.33 — Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
- ACC: 1:30.02 — Jack Alexy, California (2025)
- ACC Championship Record: 1:31.16 — Luke Miller, NC State (2022)
- Pool: 1:30.28 — Drew Kibler, Texas (2022)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:32.27
Top 8:
- Logan Robinson (FSU) – 1:32.21
- Henry McFadden (Stanford) – 1:32.32
- Francis Brennan (SMU) – 1:32.35
- Guy Brooks (Louisville) – 1:32.50
- Keaton Jones (Cal) – 1:32.51
- Kaii Winkler (NC State) – 1:32.61
- Brendan Whitfield (Virginia Tech) – 1:32.76
- Daniel Diehl (NC State) – 1:32.80
We’re living in a world where ten guys are going sub-1:33 in the 200 free prelims at a conference championship meet.
Florida State sophomore Logan Robinson led the way this morning with a 1:32.21. Stanford’s Henry McFadden, the defending champion in the event, posted the 2nd-fastest time of the morning with a 1:32.32. Just behind him sits SMU freshman Francis Brennan, whose time of 1:32.35 is just 0.04s of his own Mustang record in the event.
Louisville’s Guy Brooks (1:32.50) and NC State teammates Kaii Winkler (1:32.61) and Daniel Diehl (1:32.80) return to the A-final. Brendan Whitfield of Virginia Tech went 1:32.76 this morning to also make the top eight after swimming in the C-final last year.
Cal’s Keaton Jones finished 5th overall this morning with a 1:32.50 after finishing 27th in prelims last year.
Only 0.12s separated 7th-10th, and the Virginia Cavaliers were hit with a double whammy, as David King (1:32.86) and Maximus Williamson (1:32.88) were both relegated to the B-final.
King missed the A but his last 3 splits were 23.67 23.68 23.69 lol
Call me crazy, but Noah Yanchulis is killing it right now. Except Claire (but that’ll be a hard one to figure out) all his distance swimmers seem to be swimming very well right now
Yeah he is. He’s a pro but add Gabe Jett to the list of swimmers excelling under Noah the past year.
I’m hoping Claire and Teagan are pulling a Destin Lasco and not even remotely rested for this meet. I could see both of them dropping a lot of time at NCAAs given they have been safely qualified for a while.
who do you think Teagan’s primary coach is? With Yanchulis being distance and all those sprint coaches on staff I’m wondering who coaches middle distance. Durden?
I’d guess Durden or a combo of Durden/Noah, but I don’t know for sure.
Honestly that could be the thing with Claire. Isn’t Ron still 100% involved? Makes more sense she’d be saving for NCAAs versus completely off
He did amazing things for Oklahoma Christian’s program while he was there, when the team went from just 1 swimmer in a conference A final, all the way to a top-10 Division 2 team in just 5 years. No surprise to see he’s taking swimmers from one of the best teams in the country to even greater heights.
Cal men flyers – ooof
For real. Sam Quarles is our only flyer? What happened to Roman jones?
Last I heard, Roman Jones has an injury :/
Yeah, Roman Jones is injured I believe. But I was hoping to see more from the international frosh (Puggaard, Brown) this meet.
That said, I wish I could still go 45 in a 75, much less a 100
prelims hits:
Hayes + Bustos back in force
Gigi Johnson crushing the double
all of Cal/Stanford’s 4IMers
Tommy Janton just misses final, in the 100 fly?
Misses:
D’ariano/Ponsler/Carlsen/Nystrand – basically all of NC state’s 4IMers
Battaglini/Pugaard/Qarles/Nicholas in the 100 fly
Ethan Harrington swimmming a 47 in the 100 fly
Williamson/King 9/10 in the 2free for UVA
That Johnson double is really impressive, especially in this year’s women’s ACC.
I think that was carlsens best time tho? not sure why he did that event..
interesting that he’s from the other Las Vegas team
Thank goodness that one guy on the pool deck told us uva men aren’t shaved or rested
I really hope they’re not.
Nobody at this meet is shaved and rested
UVA never shaves or rests. They are the savage 7, standing for how savage it is to get all the top recruits and still end up 7th at ACC
average* 7
McFadden and Keaton Jones with big bouncebacks in the 2 free after lackluster 500s yesterday
Whoever that guy is that keeps predicting David King transferring to Texas after this season, you might be onto something
… yeah whoever that guy is….
I actually don’t know, just find it weird to suddenly be liking Texas posts on social media
I think it’s Maximus that people keep predicting…
i hope he does transfer – he’d be an incredible swimmer under Bob Bowman. Sorry to Todd, but the men aren’t doing it like the women are.
He doesn’t want to do the yardage Bob will make him do that’s why he didn’t end up with him the first time.
It’s more that he’s really close with and trusts Gary Taylor.
Maximus or David?
Hard to follow who’s referring to whom. I’m talking about King. Williamson, I don’t know. He seems to like it in Charlottesville. And with Heysen coming in he can be better utilized on relays.
The King thing confuses me. I’ll be the first to admit I want to see Williamson in Austin, but to be seeing King liking Texas posts all of a sudden has me scratching my head. Followed the account very recently and is now liking Texas posts. Like as a head coach, what are you supposed to think when one of your top guys is liking the top programs’ posts?
u seem very caught up in the instagram of it all…
to be honest, the texas account is the only reason I keep the app
Plus that’s how I found out Bob was coming
Athletes supporting each other isn’t uncommon.
NCSU swimmers have liked UVA instagram posts. I dont think its that deep
I think David might have a friend from VHSL swimming doing well at Texas and who has been featured in some posts recently.
More like attempting to will to happen. It’s been here for more than 2 years.
Seems clear the issue with UVa is down roster guys not dropping time. Heilman, Williamson & King all have A cuts. Virginia isn’t in the team race & it’s beyond inference their top 3 guys are planning their seasons toward NCAAs.
Nothing from the Bowman fanboy keyboard warriors last night after Williamson posted his 200 IM final time.
King? Gee, all he did last summer was make a USA select team & win his first international medals.
Far more likely both guys just cruised their prelims swims a bit too much & missed. Both have a chance to put up a time tonite.
UVA can’t even compete for an ACC championship. Why would they want to be part of a program where they are not getting faster & their team is 11th in scoring…
Not getting faster?
Look at David King’s high school times versus now. Particularly long course.
Heilman & Williamson haven’t yet had their peak meet in their first year. Seems a bit presumptuous to project outcomes now.
And we don’t see keyboard creatures here incessantly posting every high profile NCAA swimmer should transfer to Cal. From that I take there’s a material civility/class gap between Texas men supporters and Cal supporters. The Texas SwinSwam posters tribe leaves a stench here.
If you want to get as fast as possible and make as much possible NIL money why would you not go to Texas at this point?
It’s like they’re ignoring what we’ve seen out of the last year and a half
Kinda similar to how Texas fans ignore this? https://swimswam.com/bob-bowman-makes-brief-statement-on-caroline-burckle-accusations/
No matter how good of a coach he is (and admittedly, he is very good), I can’t bring myself to support someone with that in his past.
I don’t think one failure should permanently define someone.
Is it right to move past something like that though? I think a lot of people don’t know about it considering it was before Bob’s career resurgence at ASU.
I was just stating one reason why I found the incessant Texas posting particularly annoying. Again, wonderful coach, but it’s personally difficult to support someone like that for me. If you’re willing to move past it, good for you.
I think it’s fair to wrestle with that. What happened was inappropriate and it deserved scrutiny. For me, the fact that it was acknowledged, apologized for, and hasn’t been part of a broader pattern matters. I don’t think one incident should permanently define someone, but I understand why others weigh it differently.
By that reasoning everyone at Cal, NC State, Indiana, Stanford & Michigan should enter the portal to migrate to Austin for what could not possibly be more than low 5 figures in NIL money, buy a late model Honda Civic & become part of the Longhorn brotherhood on a team with a roster size of 100.
Bowman is a great coach, no knock on the institution or their program, but this board is just filled with arrogant, angry, childish & vapid Texas fans. Quite honestly I’m embarrassed for Texas swimming to be indirectly or by way of any inference associated with it.
who are these Texas fans you’re talking about? Me? Ok, anyone else?
Because they are not Olympians and NAG record holders like Maximus & Heilman. I’m sure other top caliber swimmers at NC State, Michigan, & Indiana would love to go to Texas to compete for a title and more importantly compete internationally. I’m sure Texas alumni could find a way to get attractive NIL money for someone like Heilman.
Texas has the hot hand right now in men’s swimming.
This is true, but possibly one of the few silver linings to the new roster caps is that not everyone can hop on the Texas bandwagon. I would like to see a more competitive and level team race at NCAAs, and historically weaker men’s teams attracting and keeping star recruits is how we get to that more competitive NCAA meet
Hmmm interesting word choice “hot hand”….
You know what threw me off? McFadden being 1;29 on the relay and 4:16 yesterday
I feel like he’s gone from a 200/500 guy to 100/200 guy in the last few years. In long course, his 400 has stagnated while his 100 has really taken off, so I don’t think it’s that surprising.
also known as the Townley Haas Fallacy