Hokie ClubCHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech women’s swimming team sits tied for fourth on day two of the 2012 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday evening at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The Hokies swept the diving portion as Kaylea Arnett brings in the first ACC diving title for the Virginia Tech women.
The University of Virginia is in first place with a total of 311 points, while North Carolina follows in second with 197. Florida State sits third with 166 points, followed by Virginia Tech and Miami tied for fourth with 130 points. Maryland follows in sixth with 118, while Georgia Tech (105.5), NC State (96.5), Duke (86), Clemson (73) and Boston College (36) round out the rankings.
“Going to bed tonight tied for fourth place is good positioning for us because the next two day are strong days for the Virginia Tech women,” commented head coach Ned Skinner. “Logan Shinholser and Kaylea Arnett were so awesome today, winning titles for the Hokies. The momentum is really starting to build for us which is something that gives us so much energy going into the next two days.”
In the finals, senior Erika Hajnal placed fourth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:43.14. Senior Emily Ferguson swam a season-best 23.36 in the 50 freestyle to place 15th overall.
In diving competition, Arnett became the first ever Virginia Tech ACC Champion in the women’s 1-meter event as she broke a pool and school record with a score of 348.90. Logan Kline finished fourth with a score of 315.45. In the men’s final 3-meter event, Shinholser picked up his second career ACC title as he broke a Virginia Tech record scoring a 435.40.
“It was an amazingly exciting first day of competition,” commented head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “Coming away with the women’s 1-meter champion and men’s three meter champion and the rest of the team doing a fantastic job, I couldn’t be happier. Logan Kline getting fourth on the 1-meter and all the points that came in from the diving competition is great. I am really looking forward to tomorrow and Saturday. I think we have had a great start and look to continue to do a good job for us.”
In diving preliminary rounds, Shinholser led Tech in the men’s 3-meter event as he placed second with a score of 401.15. Ryan Hawkins placed 10th with a score of 348.65, while Kyle Butts followed in 11th with a score of 339.50.
In the women’s 1-meter, Kline led Tech as she finished second with a score of 298.05, while Arnett followed third hitting the 295.65 mark.
Hajnal started the morning off for the H2Okies, placing sixth in the preliminaries of the 500 freestyle. Laura Simon just missed the scoring margin as she touched the wall at the 4:53.90 mark good for a 17th-place finish.
After Addie Carne placed 26th in the preliminaries of the 200 IM for Tech, Ferguson started her morning off strong, touching the wall at the 23.29 mark in the 50 freestyle, which placed her 15th overall.
Competition will start back up tomorrow, Feb. 17, with the preliminaries of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke beginning at 11 a.m. The diving competition begins at 1 p.m., followed by finals beginning at 7 p.m.
All championship information can be found at the official championship website, http://www.theacc.com/championships/12-swimming-diving-championship.html.