Swimming & Diving: Cavaliers set two more American records at ACC Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Sophomore Gretchen Walsh became the fastest swimmer ever in the 50-yard freestyle and was part of the American, NCAA and US Open record in the 200-yard freestyle relay as the No. 1 Virginia women’s swimming & diving team won four ACC Championships on Wednesday night at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

Virginia’s women lead the way with 551 points. Louisville is second (473.5) and NC State third (427). UVA’s men are currently in third (317) behind NC State in first (585) and Louisville in second (332.5).

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Walsh won the 50 free with a time of 20.23 to win her first individual ACC title. She topped teammate Kate Douglass’ American, NCAA and US Open record of 20.24 from the 2022 NCAA Championships.
• Douglass led off UVA’s record setting 200-yard freestyle relay, which finished in 1:23.87, with a split of 20.95. The younger Walsh (Gretchen) swam the second leg, senior Lexi Cuomo swam the third leg and junior Alex Walsh anchored the relay to an ACC Championship.
• Senior Ella Nelson added an ACC Championship after tying for first in the 500-yard freestyle. Nelson and Georgia Tech’s Deniz Ertan both touched the wall in 4:38.04 to share the ACC title in the event. It was the sixth-fastest time in UVA history.
• Douglass just missed another American record with her win the 200-yard IM. Her personal-best time of 1:50.15 was .07 seconds off teammate Alex Walsh’s record. The Pelham, N.Y., native set a meet record and won her eighth individual ACC Championship.
• UVA’s men’s relay team of junior Matt Browntead, sophomore Jack Aikins, sophomore Tim Connery and senior August Lamb, respectively, finished second in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:15.89.
• Connery set a UVA school record with his prelim swim in the 200-yard IM time of 1:42.64.
• Senior Jenn Bell closed out the night with a podium finish in the 1-meter diving event. Bell scored a 301.40.

FASTEST 50-YARD FREESTYLE EVER 🌊 #GoHoos

𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡, 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗔 & 𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗
🥇 𝗔𝗖𝗖 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡

Gretchen Walsh wins the 50 free in 20.83 💨 pic.twitter.com/veGRj5Dwp7

— Virginia Swimming and Dive (@UVASwimDive) February 16, 2023

That moment you realize you broke ANOTHER American and NCAA record 🤩@UVASwimDive now holds the fastest time for the Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay! pic.twitter.com/oQiMfTI4dH

— The ACC (@theACC) February 15, 2023

WOMEN’S NOTES

• The Cavaliers went 1, 3, 4 in the 500 free with senior Maddie Donohoe placing third to earn All-ACC honors with a time of 4:39.53. Freshman Claire Tuggle just missed the podium, finishing fourth with a career-best time of 4:40.41.
• UVA had two on the podium in the 200-yard IM as well, with junior Abby Harter finishing third with a career-best time of 1:54.83 and the fifth-fastest time in UVA history.
• Freshman Aimee Canny won the Consolation Final of the 200 IM with her time of 1:55.90 to finish ninth overall. Her time ranks ninth all-time at UVA.
• Freshman Sophia Knapp advanced to the consolation final and finished 12th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:44.97.
• Sophomore Ella Bathurst and freshman Zoe Skirball also made the 200 IM Consolation final, finishing 11th (1:57.07) and 12th (1:57.26), respectively.
• In the 50-yard freestyle, junior Maxine Parker finished 10th (21.90), senior Lexi Cuomo was 11th (21.93) and freshman Carly Novelline was 22nd (22.72).

MEN’S NOTES

• Junior Noah Nichols had the best individual finish of the night for UVA. Nichols placed fifth in the 200-yard IM with the third-fastest time in UVA history in 1:43.45. Connery finished seventh with a time of 1:44.19 after setting UVA’s school record in prelims.
• Brownstead and Lamb both made the Championship final of the 50 free, finishing sixth (19.14) and seventh (19.21), respectively. Lamb’s time of 19.21 was a personal-best. Aikins made the Consolation final to finish 10th (19.32).
• Freshman Sebastien Sergile finished 12th (1:45.09), senior Sean Conway was 13th (1:45.10) and sophomore Matt Styczen was 19th (1:45.46) in the 200-yard IM.
• Senior Jack Wright led a trio of men in the 500-yard freestyle C Final. Wright finished 18th with a time of 4:19.49. Junior Tanner Hering was 23rd in 4;20.95 and sophomore Peter Thompson finished 24th in 4:22.07.

UP NEXT

Virginia returns to action Thursday for the third day of competition at the 2023 ACC Championships with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free and men’s 3-meter diving.