Virginia Clinches Fifth-Straight ACC Men’s Title; Georgia Tech’s Ayalon Is Meet’s Top Swimmer

CHAPEL HILL, NC., March 1 — A clean sweep. Mr. Jefferson would be proud.

After breaking host North Carolina's three-year stranglehold on the women's Atlantic Coast Conference swimming and diving Championship here last weekend with its first title since 1999, Virginia Coach Mark Bernardino's Cavalier men won their fifth-straight league title this evening.

The meet, which was held at UNC's Maurice J. Koury Natatorium,, the conference's fastest pool, saw the UVA men tie the Cavs' men's soccer team (1991-95) and the women's outdoor track team (1983-87) for the school record with five-consecutive ACC titles.

The gentlemen from Charlottesville won the three-day, 21-event championship with 780 points. Florida State was second with 567 points and host North Carolina finished third (555.50). Georgia Tech — largely on the strength of senior Shilo Ayalon, an Israeli national team member, who won the 1650 free tonight after runner-up finishes in the 500 free and 400 IM — was fourth (471). North Carolina State was fifth (368), followed by Clemson (339), Maryland (240) and Duke (140.50).

For his outstanding showing, Ayalon was named Swimmer of the Meet.

The Cavaliers won three of seven events on the final day of competition with junior Luke Anderson, a Charlottesville native, having a hand in two of the victories. Anderson won the 100 freestyle for the third-consecutive year, taking the top spot in 43.78, .14 off the NCAA "A" cut. Anderson set the UVA record with his 43.08 at last year's championship.

He also swam the second leg of Virginia's winning 400 free relay that clocked a "B" cut 2:56.10.

The final Cavalier victory was by second-year man Michael Raab who won the 200 butterfly by two seconds with an NCAA "A" cut of 1:44.65, just off his pr 1:44.18 from the Bulldog Invitational at Athens last December. (That's Athens, GA — not Greece.).

The win was Raab's second-consecutive ACC title in the 200 butterfly and his earlier pr ranks him third on the all-time Cav list. No. 1 is former Canadian star Shameck Pitucha's 1:43.50 from NCAAs four years ago, then Doak Finch's 1:43.54.

* * * * *

Virginia opened the final session by taking second through fourth places in the 1650 freestyle. The winner was Tech's Ayalon with his pr, school, meet and — AND ACC-record 14:47.99 — dropping his career-best by a good 15 seconds-plus from last season.

Ayalon ranks second nationally behind list-leader and defending NCAA champ Erik Vendt of USC, who went a 14:42.96 at the Longhorn Invitational in Austin last December. Vendt won NCAAs at Athens a year ago in a pr and Trojan-record 14:37.48, history's eighth-best performance.

Ayalon's time ranks him as the race's 19th-fastest performer ever although he's not among the all-time Top 25 performances.

Freshman Fran Crippen, 500 free champ, was the Cavs' highest finisher, taking second with a pr and NCAA
"A" 14:51.87. Junior teammate Ian Prichard, who held the ACC record with his 14:51.70 from his rookie year when the meet was held at UVA, took third (15:09.83), while senior Dan DeMarco was fourth (15:11.42).

In the 200 backstroke, gold went to Clemson junior Mark Henly (pr 1:45.16) with Maryland's Erik Weinberg a close second (1:45.29). Virginia's Wagner, ACC record-holder (1:42.67), was third and teammate Bo Greenwood was next. Their times were "B" cuts of 1:45.46 and 1:45.94, respectively. Greenwood was also a double gold-medalist in the IMs for the second-straight year.

In addition to Anderson winning the 100 freestyle, Virginia swimmers claimed fifth- and sixth-place. Kerpelman was fifth (44.53) and Haag was sixth (44.86).

The 200 breast gold went to Tar Heel senior Sean Quinn, who defended his title with an auto time of 1:57.35. His pr and 'Heel-record is 1:56.39 from llast year's championship.

Senior Jon Baird was the Cavaliers' only finalist in the 200 breaststroke, posting a "B" cut of 1:59.50 to finish third.

Raab paced four Cavaliers in the final of the 200 butterfly with his first-place performance. Fourth-year man Guy Yimsomruay was fourth (1:47.92) and senior Dan Zurowski took fifth (1:48.13). Sophomore Chris Cooper was seventh (1:49.87).

In the three-meter diving competition, gold went to Florida State's Louis Gagnet(621.05). Virginia freshman Andrew Barber scored a fifth with 510.05 points, while first-year teammate Eric Kelley was 12th with 412.45 points.

2003 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
MAURICE J. KOURY NATATORIUM
CHAPEl HILL, NC.
MARCH 1, 2003

25 YD. POOL

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (DAY 3)

Event 14 Men 1650 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 15:01.39
NCAA B: # 15:28.43
ACC REC: @ 14:51.70 2001 Ian Prichard – Virginia
MEET REC: * 14:51.70 2001 Ian Prichard – Virginia
POOL REC: ^ 15:00.98 2000 Austin Ramirez – Virginia
Name Year School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 Ayalon, Shilo SR Georgia Tech 14:47.99@
25.01 27.24 27.56 27.48 27.48 27.38 27.44 27.47
27.35 27.34 27.53 27.11 27.23 27.07 27.10 27.11
27.02 27.27 27.16 27.19 27.13 27.09 26.96 27.06
27.14 27.10 26.99 26.93 26.89 26.41 26.13 24.78
23.84
2 Crippen, Fran FR Virginia 14:51.87^
24.60 26.47 26.85 27.07 27.08 27.12 27.11 27.07
27.14 27.12 27.10 27.14 27.22 27.21 27.19 27.15
27.16 27.14 27.15 27.02 27.18 27.17 26.98 27.20
27.17 27.12 27.17 27.24 27.14 27.05 27.02 27.06
27.26
3 Prichard, Ian JR Virginia 15:09.83#
25.11 27.15 27.28 27.47 27.57 27.57 27.30 27.56
27.52 27.60 27.40 27.52 27.69 27.70 27.90 27.80
27.82 27.51 27.43 27.88 27.89 27.88 27.70 27.77
27.93 28.02 27.89 27.85 27.77 27.95 27.74 27.89
26.77
4 DeMarco, Dan SR Virginia 15:11.42#
25.20 27.54 27.38 27.52 27.48 27.44 27.43 27.71
27.50 27.59 27.47 27.74 27.69 27.97 27.72 27.79
27.79 28.01 28.01 27.93 27.78 27.96 27.95 28.13
28.06 28.17 28.08 28.04 28.16 27.63 27.46 26.91
26.18
5 Morgan, Sam D FR Georgia Tech 15:12.95#
24.97 27.29 27.53 27.68 27.75 27.44 27.70 27.67
27.81 27.62 27.57 27.65 27.71 27.83 27.70 27.63
27.68 27.98 27.95 28.03 27.93 27.95 28.11 27.92
28.04 27.95 28.05 27.90 28.13 27.65 27.73 27.57
26.83
6 Oliver, Eddy M JR Georgia Tech 15:18.32#
25.54 27.34 27.49 27.80 28.06 28.07 27.75 27.87
27.80 28.03 28.11 27.77 27.85 27.89 28.04 27.92
28.10 28.11 28.25 28.24 27.54 27.94 27.93 28.04
28.05 28.19 28.28 28.56 28.26 28.02 28.13 27.38
25.97
7 Suguiyama, Yuri F JR North Carolina 15:21.79#
24.99 27.35 28.03 27.88 27.76 27.72 27.50 27.75
27.77 28.06 28.22 28.00 28.02 27.95 28.03 28.12
28.20 28.11 27.97 28.14 28.23 28.07 28.30 28.23
28.50 28.09 28.37 28.36 28.60 28.50 28.09 28.01
26.87
8 Owen, Reid SO North Carolina 15:24.16#
25.60 27.13 27.50 27.75 28.01 28.06 28.08 27.98
27.90 28.27 28.05 28.04 28.07 27.95 28.09 28.03
27.82 28.12 28.25 28.04 28.11 28.03 28.21 28.18
28.07 28.12 28.36 28.37 28.34 28.42 28.39 28.85
27.97

Event 15 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 1:44.02
NCAA B: # 1:47.14
ACC REC: @ 1:42.67 2001 Luke Wagner – Virginia
MEET REC: * 1:43.39 1995 Rob Braknis – Fsu
POOL REC: ^ 1:41.41 1991 Martin Zubero – Fla Aquatics
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Henly, Mark JR Clemson 1:45.54 1:45.16#
24.87 26.32 26.93 27.04
2 Weinberg, Erik S SO Maryland 1:47.24 1:45.29#
24.71 26.17 26.81 27.60
3 Wagner, Luke JR Virginia 1:44.63 1:45.46#
24.63 26.22 26.84 27.77
4 Greenwood, Bo SO Virginia 1:46.42 1:45.94#
25.64 26.66 26.76 26.88
5 Brandenberger, Chris G SO Maryland 1:47.30 1:46.72#
25.44 27.21 27.07 27.00
6 Reed, Buddy SO Clemson 1:48.44 1:48.58
25.63 27.15 27.83 27.97
7 Barkley, Kevin D SO N.C. State 1:47.21 1:48.63
25.35 26.97 27.37 28.94
8 Salazar, James M SR Georgia Tech 1:48.19 1:50.18
25.41 27.16 28.39 29.22

Event 16 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 43.64
NCAA B: # 44.94
ACC REC: @ 42.96 1999 Brendon Dedekind – Fsu
MEET REC: * 42.96 1999 Brendon Dedekiind – Fsu
POOL REC: ^ 43.14 1997 Brendon Dedekind – Fsu
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Anderson, Luke JR Virginia 44.46 43.78#
20.57 23.21
2 Hill, Mark W JR Maryland 44.56 44.20#
21.09 23.11
3 Roycik, Joel FR Florida State 44.67 44.39#
21.46 22.93
4 Hersko, Josh S SR Georgia Tech 44.29 44.45#
21.10 23.35
5 Kerpelman, Adam JR Virginia 44.38 44.53#
21.35 23.18
6 Haag, Jon JR Virginia 44.91 44.86#
21.14 23.72
7 Marshburn, Joey SR Florida State 44.89 44.94#
21.76 23.18
8 Luoma, Brian J SR Maryland 44.84 45.12
21.38 23.74

Event 17 Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 1:57.68
NCAA B: # 2:01.21
ACC REC: @ 1:53.99 2000 ED Moses – Virginia
MEET REC: * 1:54.79 2002 Gary Marshall – Virginia
POOL REC: ^ 1:53.99 2000 ED Moses – Virginia
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Quinn, Sean S SR North Carolina 2:00.42 1:57.35$
26.60 29.48 30.58 30.69
2 Nienaber, Wickus JR Florida State 2:00.04 1:58.30#
26.26 29.54 30.45 32.05
3 Baird, Jon SR Virginia 2:00.21 1:59.50#
26.69 30.19 30.90 31.72
4 Tsuji, Tommy SR Georgia Tech 1:59.69 1:59.92#
26.89 30.40 31.11 31.52
5 Stricker, Tal JR Florida State 2:00.05 2:00.59#
27.24 30.39 31.27 31.69
6 Betts, Justin SR Florida State 2:01.02 2:01.10#
26.20 30.34 31.25 33.31
7 Yeager, Rob J SO N.C. State 2:01.32 2:01.78
27.46 30.38 31.23 32.71
8 Govse, Gregor SR Clemson 2:01.40 2:02.92
27.54 30.78 31.93 32.67

Event 18 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 1:44.93
NCAA B: # 1:48.07
ACC REC: @ 1:43.50 1999 Shamek Pietucha – Virginia
MEET REC: * 1:43.54 2000 Doak Finch – Virginia
POOL REC: ^ 1:43.54 2000 Doak Finch – Virginia
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Raab, Michael SO Virginia 1:46.74 1:44.65$
23.37 26.19 27.02 28.07
2 Kummer, Rob JR Clemson 1:48.93 1:46.65#
23.54 26.77 27.84 28.50
3 Glasco, Josh FR North Carolina 1:47.66 1:47.49#
24.40 27.48 27.78 27.83
4 Yimsomruay, Guy SR Virginia 1:48.15 1:47.92#
23.72 27.31 28.04 28.85
5 Zurowski, Dan SR Virginia 1:48.94 1:48.13
24.23 27.79 27.95 28.16
6 Coble, Casey C JR North Carolina 1:50.07 1:49.67
24.52 27.86 28.55 28.74
7 Cooper, Chris SO Virginia 1:48.68 1:49.87
23.98 27.55 28.69 29.65
8 Figh, Matt L SO Georgia Tech 1:49.73 1:50.06
25.05 28.52 27.74 28.75

Event 19 Men 3 mtr Diving
===============================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Gagnet, Louis SO Florida State 556.35 621.05
2 Poitras, Eric JR North Carolina 567.25 592.65
3 Thomas, Craig SR Clemson 518.35 533.35
4 Bench, Jared M SO N.C. State 505.55 532.85
5 Barber, Andrew FR Virginia 455.55 510.05
6 Ferguson, T.J. J FR N.C. State 429.10 502.80
7 Hood, Sam SO Florida State 504.55 496.00
8 McCarty, Paul D JR Georgia Tech 443.15 480.15

Event 20 Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
NCAA A: $ 2:55.06
NCAA B: # 3:00.31
ACC REC: @ 2:55.22 1997 Florida State
DEDEKIND, COELHO, McVITTIE, BRAKNIS
MEET REC: * 2:55.22 1997 Florida State
DEDEKIND, COELHO, McVITTIE, BRAKNIS
POOL REC: ^ 2:55.22 1997 Florida State
DEDEKIND, COELHO, McVITTIE, BRAKNIS
School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of Virginia 'A' 2:56.10#
1) Kerpelman, Adam JR 2) Anderson, Luke JR
3) Haag, Jon JR 4) Wagner, Luke JR
21.01 44.26 20.34 43.52 20.35 43.86 21.03 44.46
2 Florida State University 'A' 2:57.67#
1) Jacome, Fernando JR 2) Averett, Michael SO
3) Marshburn, Joey SR 4) Roycik, Joel FR
21.52 44.99 20.91 44.73 20.51 43.67 21.22 44.28
3 University of North Carolina 'A' 2:57.99#
1) Albrecht, Jon FR 2) Matkovich, Eddy SO
3) Pigassou, Michael JR 4) Donato, Justin JR
21.56 45.28 20.73 44.32 21.10 44.41 20.76 43.98
4 University of Maryland 'A' 2:59.31#
1) Hill, Mark W JR 2) Luoma, Brian J SR
3) Fried, Mike S SO 4) Weinberg, Erik S SO
21.12 44.46 20.70 44.39 20.95 45.37 21.40 45.09
5 N.C. State University 'A' 3:01.56
1) Smith, Justin C SO 2) Rojas, Cristian G JR
3) Hudson, John M FR 4) Dettloff, Scott D FR
22.28 45.68 21.49 45.62 21.50 44.73 21.31 45.53
6 Georgia Tech Swimming 'A' 3:03.21
1) Hersko, Josh S SR 2) Howard, Jason W FR
3) Oliver, Jorge M SR 4) Riebesell, Ryan K FR
21.65 45.22 22.46 46.93 21.59 45.69 21.33 45.37
7 Clemson University 'A' 3:04.10
1) Scheerhorn, Drew JR 2) Mulder, Derrick SO
3) Hitchcock, Brent JR 4) Williams, Josh SR
21.57 45.45 22.46 46.99 21.84 46.20 21.32 45.46
8 Duke University 'A' 3:09.02
1) Humphrey, John E SO 2) Yates, Trevor JR
3) Pearce, Billy FR 4) Olmsted, Matt JR
22.53 47.06 22.50 47.22 22.30 46.81 22.48 47.93

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