Ashlynn Peters and Klaudia Nazieblo claimed bronze in their respective events on the final day of the 2018 ACC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
“I am proud of our ladies and their effort at ACCs,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “Clearly we were hoping for a higher team finish, but we just came up short in a tight cluster between fourth through seventh [50 points separated the teams]. We gave it all we had on the boards and in the pool.”
Peters claimed the bronze in the platform after scoring a 239.25 in the finals. She was named the Women’s Most Valuable Diver of the Meet after becoming the only female diver to qualify for finals in all three diving events. She finished fifth in both the 3-meter and 1-meter events earlier in the week.
“The divers did a great job on the platform today and we are so happy for Ashlynn to win Diver of the Meet.”
Nazieblo swam a NCAA B cut with a time of 1:55.01 in the 200 fly. Joining her in scoring for the Hokies in the event were Leah Rogers with a 1:59.69, 14th place finish and Maggie Gruber who finished 22nd in 2:02.06.
The 400-free relay team of Adriana Grabski, Joelle Vereb, Danielle Griggs and Reka Gyorgy set a new Virginia Tech record with a time of 3:15 flat enroute to finishing fifth. The old record of 3:16.21 was set in 2009.
“It appears four relays will swim at NCAAs and improving relays was a big goal of ours,” said Skinner. “Including breaking one of our oldest school records in the 400-free relay to end the meet. We will look forward to building on this as a program and for our march to NCAAs next month.”
Chloe Hicks finished eighth in the 200 back with a B cut time of 1:55.27. Emily Meilus added a 16th overall finish (1:57.06) while Reka Gyorgy was in the C final, finishing 18th overall in 1:54.71. Both times fall under the NCAA B cut.
In the 1650 free, Sophomore Grace Kowal claimed ninth with a B time of 16:16.14. Eleanor Matheson was 15th in 16:32.01 and teammate Jenna Beattie finished just behind with 16:35.66 for 16th
Grabski added an 11th place finish in the 100 free to her resume as she saw a B cut of 48.68.
M.J. Ulrich took 20th in the 200-breaststroke (2:13.84) while Kelly Henry was 23rd (2:15.74).
On the boards for the men, Thomas Shinholser finished fifth in the platform, scoring 317.0. Freshman Ben Schiesl was seventh with a score of 303.10. Miranda Eberle also qualified for finals on the women’s side, finishing with a 169.10 for eighth place.
Final team scores: Virginia – 1382.5; Louisville – 1149.5; NC State – 1037; North Carolina – 786.5; Notre Dame – 775; Duke – 756.5; Virginia Tech – 736; Florida State – 578.5; Pitt – 494; Georgia Tech – 370.5; Miami – 315; Boston College – 120.
The Hokies’ men’s team will be in action at the ACC Championships next week at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, Feb. 21-24.
–VT Athletics