Saturday, February 18
Greensboro, N.C.
All Day
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ACC Championships
Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim
Vazquez Named Most Valuable Diver, Swimming & Diving Concludes ACC Championships
February 18, 2023 | Swimming & Diving
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving team concluded the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, which took place Feb. 14-18 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
For her winning ways throughout the meet, junior Aranza Vazquez was named the meet's Most Outstanding Diver after earning gold on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. She became the first diver to sweep all three events since 2008.
The Tar Heel women tallied 813 points throughout the five-day competition to finish fourth amongst the ACC's 12 teams. The men's team took eighth overall after tallying a cumulative score of 514.
Sophie Lindner started the fifth and final day by placing eighth in the women's 200 backstroke with a time of 1:54.95, bettering the 1:55.41 she posted during prelims. Swimming in the consolation final, Emma Karam raced to 11th overall in 1:55.52 – fast enough for a new collegiate personal best – while Aislin Farris clocked in at 1:58.09 in the C-final for 22nd.
A trio of Tar Heels competed in the bonus final of the men's 200 backstroke with Noah Rutberg paving the way at 1:42.98 to finish 19th, followed closely by Matthew Van Deusen (1:43.13, 20th) and Alex Mays (1:44.01, 21st). It was a best time for Van Deusen while all three went faster in the evening than in the morning.
Carolina's top finisher in the women's 100 freestyle was Grace Countie, who powered home in 48.59 for 14th overall after swimming in the consolation heat. Olivia Nel sprinted to 23rd with a time of 49.50 while racing in the C-final.
Three more Tar Heels raced in the C-final of the women's 200 breaststroke. Kat Ward got her hands to the wall in a personal-best 2:12.45 for 18th, followed by Skyler Smith (2:13.08, 19th) and Lexi Rudolph (2:16.17, 24th).
Greer Pattison (49.83), Nel (48.67), Amy Dragelin (48.88) and Countie (47.59) combined in 3:14.97 to place fifth in the women's 400 freestyle relay. The men's relay squad of Tomas Sangaila (44.19), Patrick Hussey (42.43), Tyler Roberton (43.80) and Louis Dramm (43.27) took 10th in 2:53.69 to conclude the meet.
Next up, the Tar Heel divers turn their attention to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, from March 5-8, which serves as the qualifying meet for the NCAA Championships.
The 2023 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will take place in Knoxville from March 15-18 while the men's meet will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from March 22-25.
For her winning ways throughout the meet, junior Aranza Vazquez was named the meet's Most Outstanding Diver after earning gold on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. She became the first diver to sweep all three events since 2008.
The Tar Heel women tallied 813 points throughout the five-day competition to finish fourth amongst the ACC's 12 teams. The men's team took eighth overall after tallying a cumulative score of 514.
Sophie Lindner started the fifth and final day by placing eighth in the women's 200 backstroke with a time of 1:54.95, bettering the 1:55.41 she posted during prelims. Swimming in the consolation final, Emma Karam raced to 11th overall in 1:55.52 – fast enough for a new collegiate personal best – while Aislin Farris clocked in at 1:58.09 in the C-final for 22nd.
A trio of Tar Heels competed in the bonus final of the men's 200 backstroke with Noah Rutberg paving the way at 1:42.98 to finish 19th, followed closely by Matthew Van Deusen (1:43.13, 20th) and Alex Mays (1:44.01, 21st). It was a best time for Van Deusen while all three went faster in the evening than in the morning.
Carolina's top finisher in the women's 100 freestyle was Grace Countie, who powered home in 48.59 for 14th overall after swimming in the consolation heat. Olivia Nel sprinted to 23rd with a time of 49.50 while racing in the C-final.
Three more Tar Heels raced in the C-final of the women's 200 breaststroke. Kat Ward got her hands to the wall in a personal-best 2:12.45 for 18th, followed by Skyler Smith (2:13.08, 19th) and Lexi Rudolph (2:16.17, 24th).
Greer Pattison (49.83), Nel (48.67), Amy Dragelin (48.88) and Countie (47.59) combined in 3:14.97 to place fifth in the women's 400 freestyle relay. The men's relay squad of Tomas Sangaila (44.19), Patrick Hussey (42.43), Tyler Roberton (43.80) and Louis Dramm (43.27) took 10th in 2:53.69 to conclude the meet.
Next up, the Tar Heel divers turn their attention to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, from March 5-8, which serves as the qualifying meet for the NCAA Championships.
The 2023 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will take place in Knoxville from March 15-18 while the men's meet will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from March 22-25.
Players Mentioned
Free, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free, Back, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Back, Fly, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Distance Free, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Back, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly, Back, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Back, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Back, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast, Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Back, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast, IM
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