Tar Heels Finish Third at the ACC Men's Swimming Championships

June 21, 1999 | Swimming & Diving

By: UNC Athletic Communications

February 27, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Virginia held off a strong charge by Florida State and went on to capture the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Men*s Swimming and Diving Championship at the University of Maryland*s Campus Recreation Center Natatorium Saturday night, ending North Carolina*s six-year stranglehold on the conference title.

The Tar Heels finished a distant third in the team scoring. Carolina failed to win an individual event or relay title at the ACC Championships for the first year since 1978, head coach Frank Comfort*s first year at the helm of the Tar Heel program.

The Cavaliers, winning the conference meet for the third time overall and the first time since1990, outpointed Florida State 704-697.50, a margin of only 6.5 points. It was the sixth closest finish in ACC history and the closest since 1990 when Virginia defeated North Carolina by only three points.

The Tar Heels finished third with 585.5 points and they were followed by North Carolina State with 545.5 points, Clemson with 352 points, Maryland with 315 points, Georgia Tech with 192.5 points and Duke with 113 points.

It marked the first time since 1990 that Virginia swept both the men*s and women*s championships in the same year. The Cavalier women won the ACC title last week. Since Virginia*s sweep in 1990, Carolina has been the only other school to pull off the double, winning both titles in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. Swimmers from Virginia or Florida State won every event Saturday night except for the three-meter diving competition.

Virginia roared to an impressive start on championship Saturday, finishing 1-2-3 in 1650-yard freestyle. The Cavs were led by Austin Ramirez, who captured the event for a third consecutive year. Ramirez*s winning time of 15:10.15 met the NCAA automatic qualifying time. It was his sixth career ACC title and his second of this meet (he captured the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday night). Ramirez was followed by teammates Jamie Grimes (15:12.38) and Michael Fuller (15:28.24). Carolina sophomore Seth Laughlin was the only Tar Heel swimmer to score in the event, taking seventh place.

Florida State*s Stephen Parry pulled off a double win on Saturday to give him three titles in the meet and five for his career. Parry, who was selected co-MVP of the meet with teammate Brendon Dedekind, followed up his win in the 200-yard backstroke with a victory in the 200-yard butterfly.

Parry clocked a time of 1:45.05 in the 200-yard backstroke and a meet record time of 1:44.63 in the 200-yard fly. He led a 1-2 Seminole finish in the backstroke, with teammate Greg Main-Baillie finishing second in a time of 1:47.80. The Seminoles went 1-4-5 in the 200 fly. On Friday, Parry captured the 200-yard freestyle crown. UNC senior Tom Schmelzer finished fourth in the 200-yard backstroke, while sophomore Matt Baldwin was eighth and sophomore Mark Seidman ninth. In the 200-yard butterfly, UNC senior Tucker Shade finished ninth, freshman Sebastien Moity 10th and junior David Weeks 12th.

The Seminoles continued their charge at front-running Virginia in the evening*s third event, recording a 1-2-4-5 finish in the 100 freestyle, highlighted by Dedekind*s record-breaking effort of 42.96. Dedekind broke the ACC record of 43.07 set in 1993 by North Carolina State*s David Fox, now an assistant coach at North Carolina, and rewrote his own ACC meet record of 43.14 set in 1997. UNC senior Ted Brisson was the only Tar Heel to score in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in ninth place.

Freshman Ed Moses of Virginia helped keep the charging Seminoles at bay in the 200-yard breaststroke, leading a 1-3 UVA finish by registering an ACC record time of 1:57.37. Moses bested the previous mark of 1:58.74 by Virginia*s Chris Graber in 1993 and handily beat Florida State*s Brett Petersen, who finished second in a time of 2:01.10. Casey Hughes of Virginia was third in a time of 2:01.58. Carolina sophomore David Slawinski took fifth in the event, while freshman Chris Helin was eighth, sophomore Ethan Hall 12th and sophomore Brad Kline 13th.

Maryland sophomore Kevin Burke successfully defended his three-meter diving title. Burke, who swept the one- and three-meter events as a freshman in 1998, was runner-up in the one-meter diving event on Thursday. He outpointed Andy Johnson of North Carolina State 585.75-529.15. UNC juniors Christian Zuburg and Kevin Mangum finished 10th and 12th, respectively.

Florida State won the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, but it wasn*t enough to overtake the Cavaliers. The Seminoles posted a time of 2:55.87 to defeat runner-up Clemson (2:59.52). The Tar Heel relay of senior Chris Jennings, Shade, Schmelzer and Brisson finished in fourth place with a time of 2:59.85.

Carolina*s third-place finish is its lowest in the ACC Championships since the 1992 team also finished in third place.

1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Mens Swimming & Diving Championships
Campus Recreation Center Natatorium, College Park, Md.
Results for Saturday, February 27, 1999

Event 14: 1650-yard Freestyle

Championship Finalists-- 1. Austin Ramirez (UVA), 15:10.15 NC-A; 2. Jamie Grimes (UVA), 15:12.38 NC-B; 3. Michael Fuller (UVA), 15:28.24 NC-B; 5. Mark Eberlie (NCS), 15:33.15 NC-B; 6. Richard Culberson (NCS), 15:35.08 NC-B; 7. Seth Laughlin (UNC), 15:36.98 NC-B; 8. Kevin Chipman (NCS), 15:37.14 NC-B.

Consolation Finalists-- 9. Stephen Matthews (NCS) 15:40.19; 10. Bill Schultz (FSU), 15:40.76; 11. P.J. Stojadinovic (UMD), 15:43.51; 12. Scot Budde (UMD), 15:45.91; 13. Ragan Williams (NCS), 15:47.11; 14. Randy Tyner (NCS), 15:52.76; 15. David Pelligrimas (UVA), 15:55.89; 16. Leo Salinas (GT), 15:57.82.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 523; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 445; 3. FLORIDA STATE 442.50; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 402.50; 5.CLEMSON 236; 6. MARYLAND 215; 7. GEORGIA TECH 139; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 15: 200-Yard Backstroke

Championship Finalists -- 1. Stephen Parry (FSU), 1:45.05 NC-B; 2. Greg Main-Baillie (FSU), 1:47.80; 3. Chris Mousetis (UVA), 1:48.08; 4. Tom Schmelzer (UNC), 1:48.71; 5. Hunt Chipley (UVA), 1:49.62; 6. Adam Porter (CLEM), 1:49.86; 7. Braden Holloway (NCS), 1:50.02; 8. Matt Baldwin (UNC), 1:50.92.

Consolation Finalists-- 9. Mark Seidman (UNC), 1:50.21; 10. Kerwin Deese (FSU), 1:50.92; 11. Will York (CLEM), 1:51.29; 12. Tim Collis (CLEM), 1:51.34; 13. Phil Maher (UMD), 1:52.10; 14. Mark Zonarich (UMD), 1:54.24; 15. John Simpson (NCS), 1:55.05; 16. Corey DAgostino (UMD), 1:55.10.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 553; 2. FLORIDA STATE 486.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 480; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 416.50; 5. CLEMSON 260; 6. MARYLAND 223; 7. GEORGIA TECH 139; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 16: 100-Yard Freestyle

Championship Finalists-- 1. Brendon Dedekind (FSU), 42.96* NC-A; 2. Matt McVittie (FSU), 44.03 NC-B; 3. Alex Ioanovici (CLEM), 44.20 NC-B; 4. Julio Santos (FSU), 44.83 NC-B; 5. Kevin Flanagan (FSU), 44.99; 6. Drew Childs (UMD), 45.10; 7. Walter Magnusson (NCS), 45.12; 8. Aaron Peterson (UMD), 45.32.

Consolation Finalists-- 9. Ted Brisson (UNC), 45.29; 10. Jimmy Blitzer (UVA), 45.47; 11. Kenny Roberts (CLEM), 45.75; 12. Matthew Brado (NCS), 45.81; 13. Rob Etheridge (CLEM), 45.85; 14. Greg Solt (NCS), 46.00; 15. Will McReynolds (FSU), 46.08; 16. Matt Childs (UMD), 46.21.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 560; 2. FLORIDA STATE 554.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 489; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 436.50; 5. CLEMSON 286; 6. MARYLAND 248; 7. GEORGIA TECH 139; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 17: 200-Yard Breaststroke

Championship Finalists-- 1. Ed Moses (UVA), 1:57.37* NC-A; 2. Brett Petersen (FSU), 2:01.10 NC-B; 3. Casey Hughes (UVA), 2:01.58 NC-B; 4. Jason Ward (UMD), 2:02.04 NC-B; 5. David Slawinski (UNC), 2:02.62; 6. Sean Wallace (CLEM), 2:03.11; 7. Brad Bowser (NCS), 2:03.85; 8. Chris Helin (UNC), 2:04.80.

Consolation Finalists-- 9. Matt Wilson (CLEM), 2:03.02; 10. Michael Renshaw (UVA), 2:04.84; 11. Suha Akman (NCS), 2:05.53; 12. Ethan Hall (UNC), 2:05.89l; 13. Brad Kline (UNC), 2:06.21; 14. Theral Mackey (GT), 2:06.38; 15. Justin Capuco (UVA), 2:07.23; 16. Jarod Proto (NCS), 2:07.58.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 605; 2. FLORIDA STATE 571.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 523; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 455.50; 5. CLEMSON 308; 6. MARYLAND 263; 7. GEORGIA TECH 142; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 18: 200-Yard Butterfly

Championship Finalists-- 1. Stephen Parry (FSU), 1:44.63 ! NC-A; 2. Shamek Pietucha (UVA), 1:45.26 NC-A; 3. Doak Finch (UVA), 1:45.83 NC-A; 4. Keam Ang (FSU), 1:46.29; NC-B; 5. Nelson Mora (FSU), 1:48.61 NC-B; 6. Madison Snyder (NCS), 1:48.95 NC-B; 7. Tim Haley (NCS), 1:49.55; 8. Michael Fuller (UVA), 1:49.74.

Consolation Finalists-- 9. Tucker Shade (UNC), 1:49.11 NC-B; 10. Sebastien Moity (UNC), 1:50.04; 11. Mauricio Cavalcante (NCS), 1:51.00; 12. David Weeks (UNC), 1:51.72; 12. David Laitala (GT), 1:51.72; 14. Wesley Morrow (CLEM), 1:51.89; 15. David Pelligrimas (UVA), 1:52.41; 16. Jared Felker (UVA), 1:52.47.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 652; 2. FLORIDA STATE 620.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 543.50; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 486.50; 5. CLEMSON 311; 6. MARYLAND 263; 7. GEORGIA TECH 146.50; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 19: Three-Meter Diving

Championship Finals-- 1. Kevin Burke (UMD), 585.75; 2. Andy Johnson (NCS), 529.15; 3. Brent Burkman (FSU), 498.40; 4. Glen Gonzales (FSU), 488.70; 5. Kevin Cutts (NCS), 466.00; 6. Mark Baldwin (GT), 426.55; 7. Joe Piorkowski (UVA), 425.40; 8. Andy Cunningham (UVA), 414.95.

Consolation Finals-- 9. Kevin Brooks (GT), 405.50; 10. Christian Zuburg (UNC), 395.20; 11. Ben Nuttall (FSU), 394.60; 12. Kevin Mangum (UNC), 393.50; 13. Chris Anderson (CLEM), 376.95; 14. Adam Rokoff (UVA), 363.15; 15. Jeff Thomas (CLEM), 356.35; 16. Andy Garrett (CLEM), 320.00.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 678; 2. FLORIDA STATE 657.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 555.50; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 517.50; 5. CLEMSON 319; 6. MARYLAND 283; 7. GEORGIA TECH, 168.50; 8. DUKE 91.

Event 20: 400-Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Florida State (Matt McVittie, Kevin Flanagan, Julio Santos, Brendon Dedekind), 2:55.87 NC-B; 2. Clemson (Alex Ioanovici, Kenny Roberts, Tim Collis, Rob Etheridge), 2:59.52 NC-B; 3. Maryland (Drew Childs, Aaron Peterson, Matt Childs, Greg Courtois), 2:59.61 NC-B; 4. North Carolina (Chris Jennings, Tucker Shade, Tom Schmelzer, Ted Brisson), 2:59.85 NC-B; 5. North Carolina State (W. Magnusson, Matthew Brado, Greg Solt, B. Holloway), 3:00.36 NC-B; 6. Virginia (S. Pietucha, Doak Finch, Jimmy Blitzer, Austin Ramirez), 3:03.46; 7. Georgia Tech (David Laitala, Jay Cerceo, Jason Williams, Ed Brinkman), 3:04.84; 8. Duke (Brendan McGill, Matt Lynch, Jack Newhouse, Clint McHugh), 3:09.56.

TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 704; 2. FLORIDA STATE 697.50; 3. NORTH CAROLINA 585.50; 4. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 545.50; 5. CLEMSON 352; 6. MARYLAND 315; 7. GEORGIA TECH 192.50; 8. DUKE 113.

Co-Swimmers of the Meet: Stephen Parry, Florida State; Brendon Dedekind, Florida State
Diver of the Meet: Kevin Burke, Maryland
Coach of the Year: Mark Bernardino, Virginia

* - ACC Record
! - ACC Meet Record
NC-B -NCAA Provisional Qualifier
NC-A -NCAA Automatic Qualifier