Hokie ClubATLANTA - Freshman Reka Gyorgy took home ACC the title in the 400 IM with a program record time of 4:04.97 on Wednesday night for the Virginia Tech swimming and diving team at the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships.
Gyorgy is the first Tech women’s swimmer to win an ACC gold medal since 2013 when Weronika Paluszek won the 200 breast title and Heather Savage claimed the championship in the 100 fly. She’s also the third H2Okies freshman along with Paluszek and Sara Smith to win an ACC Championships.
The H2Okies are currently in sixth place in team standings with 485 points, only 28.5 points behind Duke for fifth place.
“We are very proud of this women's team. The senior leadership exhibited is inspiring and these ladies are giving all they have,” head coach Ned Skinner said. “Swimmers like Laura Schwartz- who might not take the headlines - creates momentum are critical to a successful championship meet. We are happy for Reka as she is so gifted and works very hard and Jess Hespeler earning that bronze meant so much to her and us. Our men's divers did a great job today and we are set up for a great last day.”
Also reaching the podium for the H2Okies was senior Jessica Hespeler who turned in a third place time of 1:44.37 in the 200 free. It was the first individual podium appearance at ACCs in Hespeler’s four-year career with the H2Okies.
Junior Klaudia Nazieblo gave Tech its third top five finish of the night when she placed fifth in the 100 back with a program best time of 52.05. Competing in the A finals of the 400 IM for the fourth time in her career, senior Fiona Donnelly finished with a time of 4:14.66.
In the B final of the 400 IM, senior Laura Schwartz improved on her B-cut prelim time of 4:16.57 to finish fifth with a 4:15.93. She also finished second in the C final of the 100 breast with 1:01.97.
Freshman Chloe Hicks continued to impress in her first ACC Championships after placing third in the 100 back B final with a B cut time of 53.19 the fourth fastest time in the event in Tech history.
The Championships will wrap up tomorrow starting with the prelims of 200 back where Gyorgy will be swimming in the fourth heat. She has a B cut seed time of 1:56.84 in the event.