Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Junior swimmers Gregory Mahon and Zach McGinnis will join divers Logan Shinholser and Ryan Hawkins at the 2012 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday in Seattle, Wash., to close out the H2Okie 2011-12 season. The final event of the year will take place on March 22-24.
“Zach and Greg are ready to go to Seattle and represent the H2Okies at NCAAs,” commented head coach Ned Skinner. “Each have had great seasons and we have talked about NCAAs and what an incredible opportunity they have before them. They are ready for the challenge as both swimmers are seeded in scoring position and hope to convert this into points for the program.
Mahon had an outstanding junior campaign. The Medford, N.J., native won six individual titles this season and had a great post-season showing at the ACC Championships. Mahon brought in 52 individual points, the most among the male swimmers, and helped gather 118 points in relays for Tech. He qualified for the NCAAs in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 IM at ACCs. The junior took home three medals, which included two bronze (200 fly, 200 IM) and a gold in the 100 butterfly. He holds the school records in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM and his time of 46.31 in the 100 butterfly ranks eighth in the country.
McGinnis, the Raleigh, N.C., native, had a very successful junior campaign. He took home seven individual titles this season, in addition to becoming an ACC Champion in the 100 backstoke. McGinnis qualified for the NCAAs in the 100 and 200 backstrokes. His 200 backstroke time at the Yellow Jacket Invitational ranks 27th in the country and helped Tech to a first-place finish over Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Auburn. His 100 backstroke time of 46.79 is ranked 13th overall.
Shinholser and Hawkins had a solid showing at the NCAA Zone A Qualifier. Shinholser took the gold in the 3-meter event, while Hawkins placed second to qualify on the first day of competition. Both male divers are 2012 ACC Champions, as Shinholser swept the 1- and 3-meter events and Hawkins took the gold in the platform event.
“I was truly excited for Logan and Ryan to qualify for the NCAA Championships on the first day of the Zone qualifying meet,” commented head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “It takes the pressure off of the other events and gives you a lot of confidence heading into the NCAAs. It also makes me confident as a coach, that they have been prepared correctly to get the job done and earn their spot to the meet.”
The four Hokies will jump into the water Thursday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Seattle, Wash. Click the link to find all the information on the 2012 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships: http://www.ncaa.com/championships/swimming-men/d1