Virginia & NC State Open D-I Conference Season at ACC Women’s Championships (Psych Sheet)

NC State's Katharine Berkoff. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Virginia & NC State to Kick Off Division I Conference Season at ACC Women’s Championships (Psych Sheet)

Conference season is upon us! There were concerns the season would make it this far with the uncertainties of the COVID pandemic affecting this season, but we are here, and we have made it. With less than 30 days until the 800 free relay at the NCAAs in Greensboro, we are one day closer to our ultimate goal: crowning a national champion.

Conference season kicks off this week with the ACC and SEC women’s championships.

ACC Psych Sheet

The Atlantic Coast Conference is quickly becoming one of the top conference in women’s swimming and diving with last year’s #1 ranked team on the NCAA psych sheet Virginia, along with this year’s #11 NC State, #12 Louisville, #13 North Carolina, #14 Notre Dame, #15 Virginia Tech and #24 Duke.

Out of the 13 individual swimming events offered at NCAAs, eight of the top times in the country are owned by three ACC swimmers. Virginia’s Kate Douglass is the top ranked swimmer in five of them (50, 100 free, 200 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM), Virginia’s Paige Madden is leading the 200 and 500 free, and NC State’s Katharine Berkoff is leading the 100 back. That leaves the conference very top heavy, and many championship contenders could emerge out of this weekend’s championships in Greensboro, even outside of these three swimmers.

Meet Info:

Who: Psych Sheet
When: February 17 – 20
Where: Greensboro, North Carolina
How to Watch
Finals will begin at 7 p.m. each night except Wednesday (5:15)
Prelims will begin at 11 a.m.

Storylines to follow:

What will Kate Douglass swim?

Photo Courtesy: Virginia Athletics

Douglass has almost reached Natalie Coughlin levels of dominance with her versatility and her seeming inability to swim slowly. She is entered in the 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 back, 100 free and 200 breast on the psych sheet, and will have to pick three events. It is likely she will swim the 200 IM and 100 fly, leaving either the 100 free or 200 breast on the last day. Due to Virginia’s already impressive depth in the 200 breast, one would think the 100 free would be an option, but she did swim a 2:03 earlier this month so who knows?

Who takes the relays in the Virginia vs. NC State matchup?

Virginia’s Alexis Wenger. Photo Courtesy: Virginia Athletics

This season, the ACC leads the nation in four of the five relays, with NC State on top of the 200 free and 800 free relays, and Virginia leading the country in the 400 free and 200 medley. Virginia has yet to swim an 800 free relay this season, usually waiting to make their debut at ACCs and not swimming at the mid-season invite, so we don’t really know what that relay holds in store for them. These two teams usually sit next to each other on deck in Greensboro and it has quickly become one of the top rivalries in the country and they are both one of the reasons why the ACC is so stacked on the women’s side. All five relays are expected to come down to the wire, and Virginia and NC State will each want to gain some momentum heading into NCAAs.

Who is the best breaststroker in the conference?

NC State’s Sophie Hansson Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

We mentioned how stacked Virginia’s breaststroke group is with Alexis Wenger, Ella Nelson, Alex Walsh and Anna Keating as well as Kate Douglass on the roster. NC State’s Sophie Hansson won both the 100 and 200 breast at last year’s ACCs, and the Wolfpack also have Andrea Podmanikova and freshman Abby Arens. Add in Louisville’s Morgan Friesen and Kaylee Wheeler and these are some star studded races for the meet.

How has the pandemic affected the season?

Louisville’s Tristan Ulett will make her postseason debut at the ACC women’s swimming championships. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The Atlantic Coast Conference was one of the lucky conferences that was able to start the season on time during the pandemic. Due to the difficulties of the pandemic and no guarantee at a championships, most teams suited up for nearly every meet. And now that we are in the post season, did the stress of the last few months weigh down on any swimmers that could hinder optimal performance? Will everyone be going all in on conference with the slightest bit of doubt that an NCAAs will not take place?

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