Florida State Claims First ACC Championship Title

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, February 24. FLORIDA State's determination finally paid off Saturday night, as the Seminoles clinched the 2007 ACC Men's Swimming and Diving Championships at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill. The Seminoles captured their first-ever league crown after finishing runner-up to Virginia for five of the past eight years, including the last four.

FSU's Kyle Young was voted ACC Most Valuable Swimmer by the head coaches, while Miami's Ruben Ross was named ACC Most Valuable Diver after sweeping both the 1- and 3-meter diving springboard events.

The Seminoles picked up where they left off the night before, as Young turned in an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 15:02.36 to become the first FSU swimmer to capture the 1650-yard freestyle title. North Carolina notched second and third places with freshman Chip Peterson finishing runner-up (15:06.29), while teammate Philip Owen (15:10.73) rounded out the top three. Both times by Peterson and Owen were NCAA "B" marks.

Junior Jarryd Botha helped the Seminoles keep the competition at bay, successfully defending his title in the 200 backstroke for the second year in a row. The native from Worcester, South Africa, swam an NCAA "B" time of 1:45.44 to become the first FSU swimmer to win the event back-to-back.

Second and third in the 200 back went to Virginia, as sophomore Bjorn Falk took the silver with an NCAA "B" time of 1:45.49 and ACC 200- and 400- individual medley champion Pat Mellors came in third at 1:45.77.

The Seminoles would further distance themselves from the rest of the field after junior Ed Denton was crowned the ACC champion in the 100-yard freestyle. The native from Maidenhead, England, posted a NCAA "B" cut of 44.09 to become the second Seminole to win the event.

Virginia Tech's Kaan Tayla finished second in the 100 free with an NCAA "B" time of 44.13, while Maryland's Dong Kim touched in at 44.57 for third place.

Collecting his second individual gold in the ACC Championships, Virginia's Vanja Rogulj won the 200 breaststroke for the fourth consecutive year with an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 1:56.57. The senior from Zagreb, Croatia, also enters the ACC record book as the first-ever swimmer to win the 200 breast four times and 18th all-time in any event.

Ryan Hurley joined his Cavalier teammate on the medal stand, placing second in the 200 breast with an NCAA "B" time of 1:58.00. FSU's Billy Jamerson also recorded an NCAA provisional time in the race, finishing third in 1:59.10.

The Cavaliers went on to place two in the top three of the 200-yard butterfly, including the winning performance by junior Stefan Hirniak. The Highland Park, N.J., native swam a 1:45.36 to earn his first individual gold of the championship.

Gus Calado from Virginia Tech came in second (1:45.59) in the event, while third place went to Virginia's Pat Reams (1:46.54). Times from the top three finishers in the 200 fly were NCAA provisional qualifying marks.

Virginia Tech gave everything it had left in the final event, as the Hokies claimed their first-ever 400-yard freestyle relay title. Kaan Tayla, Jake Bova, Zac Czaplicki and Scott Beard combined for a winning and an NCAA provisional time of 2:56.67.

Two other teams posted NCAA "B" cuts in the 400 free relay. The FSU squad of Ed Denton, Jimmy Holway, Jarryd Botha and Alex Kennon picked up the silver with a time of 2:56.89, while North Carolina's quartet of Hank Browning, Rob Swendiman, Keith Laabs and Zach Swartz touched in at 2:59.08 for third.

Up next for ACC swimming and diving will be the NCAA Championships. The women's swimming selection takes places Friday, March 2, while the announcement for the men will be released the following week on Friday, March 9.

ACC divers will compete March 1-4 at one of the five pre-determined NCAA regional zones – Rutgers University, University of Georgia, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma City Community College (host – Air Force Academy). Those who qualify at their respective regional will compete in the national event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 15-17.

Fans who missed the 2007 ACC Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships can view all of the Championship events on an on-demand replay basis at www.ACCSelect.com.

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