2018 ACC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday-Saturday, February 14-17th
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
- Short course yards
- Live results
- Live Stream
- ACC meet page
- Finals Heat Sheet
Predictions can never take into account all of the factors and variables of a conference championship meet. Louisville was favored to take the crown with NC State trailing in second, leaving Virginia in the projected third place seat.
Todd DeSorbo‘s UVA team, however, flipped the script.
A deep freestyle group is a tried and true formula for success, and that’s exactly what Virginia has on its roster. Highlighted by a 2-3-4-5-8-9-10 finish in the 200 free, UVA scored a whopping 165 points in a single race on the 3rd day of competition. After that, nobody would catch the ‘Hoos.
The Cavaliers amassed 1382.5 points, with Louisville placing second with 1149.5 points. NC State finished third with 1037 points, followed by North Carolina (786.5), Notre Dame (775), Duke (756.5), Virginia Tech (736), Florida State (578.5), Pitt (494), Georgia Tech (370.5), Miami (315), and Boston College (120).
For UVA, senior Caitlin Cooper was a dependable relay anchor, and turned in a 21.54 to win the 50 free with a new meet record. Freshman Paige Madden was another winner for Virginia, posting a 1:51.81 to take the 200 back.
Louisville’s Mallory Comerford won all of her individuals, the 100, 200, and 500 free, and was named the swimmer of the meet for her performance this weekend. In the 100 free, she broke her own meet record. Grace Oglesby doubled up with wins in the 100 fly (51.11) and 200 fly (1:53.87), and Mariia Astashkina was 2:09.01 to clip FSU’s Natalie Pierce in the 200 breast. The Cardinals put forth their highest ACC finish in history this weekend.
NC State finished in third, well ahead of the rest of the conference behind them, in an impressive showing despite missing key freestylers Courtney Caldwell and Ky-lee Perry. Elise Haan won the 100 back in 50.76, just .01 off of UVA alum Courtney Bartholomew’s meet record, and the Wolfpack put together a title-winning 200 medley relay, too.
Caitlin Cooper – 46.82 relay split on the 400 Free relay – one of the great little noticed swims of the meet.
Went out in 21.8 on the first 50 of it!!!!!
The DeSorbo Effect (having fun / without pressure = fast swimming + an appreciation of everything Virginia has to offer) is having an immediate impact. So happy for Seniors Laine Reed and Dina Rommel. Not to mention co-captain Cece Williams making her 1st NCAA cut in the mile. DeSorbo is building on UVA’s distance tradition and got a commitment from Maddie Donohoe, high school sophomore, 16:00, 9:37, 4:44. This team is a hot ticket.
maddie donohoe is a high school junior, but still an amazing get. go hoos!
And 47.0 by Laine Reed on same relay. Both are seniors. They came into this season with 100 free PRs of 48.9 by Cooper and 49.0 by Reed.
5 years later and still makes me smile. She gave it all for the Hoos. Proud of you Cailin., Love, Dad
Boston College 4th at 2019 ACCs. You heard it here first
Them and what recruits? until they get funding they have no chance at competing with the other teams
Mad respect for Virginia but I don’t think we’ve see all that Louisville’s got. This meet was a warm up for Comerford.
Sure, of course MalCom has more. She will be faster at NCs. But… she couldn’t have scored any more individual points no matter how much more rest she had. And this meet was a blowout.