The morning really couldn't have gone any better for Virginia at the Women's ACC Championships. In the morning they had thirteen scoring swims and by the end of the session they had twelve up and one down. If the morning was good, the night got even better for the Cavaliers with podium sweeps in the 500-yard freestyle and 200 IM.The No. 11 Cavaliers lead with 309 points, ahead of Florida State (177), NC State (166) and Virginia Tech (166). Miami (159), North Carolina (113). Duke (107), Georgia Tech (79), Boston College (62) and Clemson (8).
“We had a special day,” UVa head coach Mark Bernardino said. “What was really great about tonight was that we had some surprises. Between Kelly Offutt in the 500, Alison Haulsee coming from fifth to finish third (in the 500), our 200 IMers and many more, there were some really great performances. The team understands that the meet is not over and that the score is zero-zero and every event is zero-zero. They know they cannot take their foot off the gas pedal and we’re racing with a lot of aggressive energy, emotion and confidence. It’s really fun to see.”
One team that has struggled thus far is North Carolina. The Tarheels have never finished lower than third place in the ACC's. Today they moved up three spots, but still sit in sixth "Tonight we started to turn the corner, but we have a long way to go to meet our own expectations," said UNC head coach Rich DeSelm. "Tomorrow's sessions are critical for us as we have some great entries and opportunities to help our cause. We are in an unusual spot and will need some incredible teamwork and personal resolve to reach our goals."
In the first race of the night, the NC State foursome of Hannah Freyman, Marifrances Henley, Allison Hendren, and Riki Bonnema won the 200 free relay in 1:29.60. Bonnema held off Florida State (1:29.76) and Virginia (1:29.82) to win the event for the Wolfpack for the first time since 1980. Both the Seminoles and NC State posted NCAA automatic qualifying times.
"Awesome start for the Wolfpack women," said head coach Braden Holloway. "It was a very electric and exciting night. The women raced hard and got our program off to a good start."
Hannah Freyman, Lauren Poli, Zina Grogg and Riki Bonnema finished with a time of 1:38.52 in the 200-medley relay, breaking the previous school record (1:41.12). The time was also good for an NCAA B standard, narrowly missing an NCAA A standard (1:38.42).
"The 200-medley relay really set the tone for us tonight," said Holloway, "After finishing seventh last year, the ladies stepped up and had an amazing race to finish third and break the school record by more than two seconds."
Florida State junior Ariel Rittenhouse got the first individual title for the Seminoles at the 2013 championships with a victory on the 3-meter springboard. Rittenhouse qualified in the second position and compiled a score of 369.55 to set a new school record and beat out Virginia Tech’s Kaylea Arnett (364.90) and Miami’s Carri Dragland (302.85).
Sophomore Kelly Offutt became the first Cavalier to win the 500 free ACC title since 2004, winning in a time of 4:39.05. Junior Rachel Naurath and sophomore Alison Haulsee completed the sweep, finishing second and third in 4:41.66 and 4:41.81, respectively.
“It’s really exciting,” Offutt said. “Going out, I felt strong and just kept going with it. I feel our whole distance group won tonight because we’ve all been working hard and there were so many of us in that final.”
Sophomore Ellen Williamson lead the Cavaliers to a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 200 IM, posting the second-fastest time in UVa history in 1:57.00. Classmate Shaun Casey was second in 1:57.56, the fourth-fastest mark on the UVa all-time list, while fellow sophomore Sarah White was third in 1:58.03. Freshmen Haley Durmer (1:58.16) and Courtney Bartholomew (1:58.51) touched fourth and sixth, respectively.
“It’s exciting, but it made it so much better that I had three of my teammates right after me and five of us in the final,” Williamson said. “I think we’ve been successful because we push each other in practice every day and it was sweet sweeping the podium two events in a row.”
“Those two races were incredible,” Bernardino said. “This team wants to be recognized as a big part of what we’ve been building the last six years and I think they made a great statement this evening.”
Florida State junior Tiffany Oliver out-touched the field in the 50 free in 22.17 to win her first ACC title claim the second victory for the Seminoles on the day. Virginia’s Lauren Perdue (22.29) and Duke’s Lauren Weaver (22.34) finished in second and third to earn All-ACC honors.
In men’s diving action on Thursday evening, Duke’s Nick McCrory became only the fourth ACC male student-athlete to win the 1-meter springboard three times and the first to accomplish the feat since 1975-78. McCrory’s posted a 433.95 in the finals, ahead of Virginia Tech’s Logan Shinholser (413.50) and Florida State’s Tomas Neubacher (388.50).
The Chapel Hill, N.C., native has now won five ACC titles overall, matching an ACC record for men’s diving. McCrory is just one title shy of becoming the most decorated men’s diver in the history of the ACC Swimming & Diving Championships.
