Hokie ClubCOLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Virginia Tech men’s swimming and diving team completed the final day of action at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in College Park, Md. The Tech men claimed fifth place and scored 379 points. The Virginia Cavaliers captured the ACC title with a score of 832.
Tech had its second impressive showing in as many weeks at the ACC Championships. The H2Okie team rewrote the record books 11 times this weekend. Freshman Charlie Higgins broke three former team records to lead the H2Okies this weekend.
The H2Okies swam in the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast and the 200 fly events, in the final day of action in College Park, Md. The relay team raced in the 400 free relay.
In the 1650 free event the H2Okies posted 14 points. Tech had three swimmers score in the event with senior Ben Miller leading the team with six points. Miller touched in with a time of 15:16.28, for a new H2Okie top-time in the event, while making an NCAA “B” cut. Freshmen Bryan Uncur and Blake Trabuchi-Downey finished 12th and 14th, respectively. The former registered a time of 15:19.04, while the latter crossed the finish line in 15:24.31. The duo totaled eight points for Tech.
Higgins continued his stellar showing at his first ACC Championships. The freshman scored seven points in the 200 back and posted a time of 1:43.85, a new Tech record, while qualifying for an NCAA “B” cut in the process.
Tech claimed 24 points in the 100 free. Sophomore Stephen Hawkins registered a time of 44.26 and claimed 11 points, while senior Ian deToll touched in with a time of 44.17 for an additional six points. Meanwhile, sophomores Zach Holmes and Richard Ulatowksi finished 13th and 14th, respectively. Holmes crossed the finish line in 44.25, while Ulatowski posted a time of 44.89.
In 200 breaststroke action, juniors Jonathan Huss and Scott Harkins combined to score 11 points for Tech. Huss claimed 10th place for the H2Okies with a time of 1:59.36 for a new H2Okie record. Harkins finished slightly behind his classmate, clocking a time of 1:59.76 for a 13th place showing.
A trio of freshman totaled 30 points for Tech in the 200 fly. Trey Stewart’s performance highlighted the event for the H2Okies. Stewart garnered an NCAA “B” cut time and 15 points, after finishing the race in 1:45.76. Trabuchi-Downey had an eighth place showing in the event with a time of 1:49.37, while Matt Baumler touched in at 1:48.25 for 13th place.
The men divers’ competed last weekend in the platform event and totaled 27 points. Junior Mikey McDonald scored a third place finish in the event with a score of 357.40, while sophomore Daniel Martin qualified for the diving finals after a preliminary score of 276.75. Martin finished the event in eighth place.
In relay action, the team of deToll, Holmes, Ulatowski and Hawkins placed fourth in the 400 free relay. The squad touched in with a time of 2:55.49 for 30 points and an NCAA “B” cut. The team also claimed another H2Okie record, the fourth on the weekend in relay competition.
Next up for Tech, the divers will be in action on March 13-15 at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. Tech junior Mikey McDonald, sophomore Daniel Martin and freshman Trevor Michalak will compete for the men, while sophomore Sarah Milton and freshmen Cara Murnan and Natalie West will dive for the women.