GREENSBORO, N.C. (theacc.com) – NC State swimming and diving took charge on the fourth day of the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC), sweeping the first four individual events on the women’s and men’s side, before the Wolfpack’s men’s and Virginia’s women’s relay teams capped off the night with two American records in the 400-yard medley relay. The Cavaliers extended their lead in the team standings on the women’s side while NC State increased its lead on the men’s side after both teams finished atop the podium multiple times in Friday’s competition.

The competition concludes Saturday night.

The night opened up with Abby³ in the women’s 200-yard butterfly, as Abby Arens of NC State took gold in 1:52.91, Abby Hay of Louisville took silver in 1:53.51 and Abby Harter of Virginia earned bronze in 1:54.31.

NC State added two more podium finishes in the men’s 200-yard butterfly with Aiden Hayes finishing first in 1:40.21 and Noah Bowers taking second in 1:41.14. Virginia’s Josh Fong placed third with his time of 1:42.45.

NC State’s Katharine Berkoff beat her own GAC pool record (49.74) with her first-place finish in the women’s 100-yard backstroke in 49.45, an NCAA A cut time. Reilly Tiltmann of Virginia took second in 51.20 and Kennedy Noble added a second podium finish for the Wolfpack in the event, taking third in 51.59.

Kacper Stokowski added the Wolfpack’s fourth gold medal in a row Friday night, taking first in the men’s 100-yard backstroke in 44.47. Matt Brownstead of Virginia took second in 45.35 and Giovanni Izzo of NC State finished in third in 45.41.  

Virginia’s Alex Walsh was crowned an ACC Champion for the fourth time in four days of competition, swimming the women’s 100-yard breaststroke in 57.64, an NCAA A cut qualifying time. NC State’s Heather MacCausland took second in 58.22, followed by the Cavaliers’ Emma Weber in third (58.61).

Virginia swept the 100-yard breaststroke as Noah Nichols set an ACC and ACC Championships record with his first-place time of 50.82. He also tied his own conference and meet record of 51.03 set in 2021 during Friday morning's prelims. With Louisville’s Denis Petrashov’s second place time of 51.26, the top two times earned NCAA A cut times. Carles Coll Marti of Virginia Tech finished in third in 51.57.

North Carolina’s Aranza Vazquez was crowned an ACC Champion in platform diving, scoring a 337.05. She is the first women’s diver in 16 years to sweep all three diving events at the ACC Championships – Miami’s Brittany Viola was the last to do it in 2008.

Louisville’s Else Praasterink finished just under four points behind her in second place, scoring 333.20 and Duke’s Josie Zillig took the bronze with 290.90.

The Virginia women set their third American Record of the meet, this time in the 400-yard medley relay. The sister duo of Gretchen and Alex Walsh, along with Kate Douglass and Aimee Canny set the ACC, NCAA, ACC Championship, US Open and American Record with their time of 3:21.80. NC State took second in 3:26.28 and Duke placed third in 3:31.35. All three top times earned NCAA A cuts.

The NC State men recorded the first American Record of the meet on the men’s side in the 400-yard medley relay. The squad of Kacper Stokowski, Mason Hunter, Nyls Korstanje and Luke Miller set the ACC, ACC Championships and American Record, swimming a 3:01.10, finishing over two seconds ahead of second-place Virginia (3:03.29) and third-place Louisville (3:03.37). The four top times earned NCAA A cuts with Virginia Tech’s time of 3:03.40.

The Championships continue Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with preliminary events. Saturday's finals events start at 5:30 p.m. and will air live on ACC Network Extra and are also accessible via the WatchESPN app. Direct links to the ACCNX feeds and live swimming and diving results are available at theACC.com.

Women’s Standings (through 16 events)
1. Virginia, 1128
2. NC State, 942
3. Louisville, 822.5
4. North Carolina, 687
5. Duke, 574
6. Virginia Tech, 468
7. Florida State, 461
8. Notre Dame, 408
9. Georgia Tech, 308
10. Miami, 299
11. Pitt, 249.5
12. Boston College, 137

Men’s Standings (through 15 events)
1. NC State, 1163
2. Louisville, 727.5
3. Virginia Tech, 688
4. Virginia, 659
5. Notre Dame, 585.5
6. Florida State, 474
7. North Carolina, 459  
8. Pitt, 438.5
9. Georgia Tech, 333.5
10. Duke, 228
11. Miami, 150
12. Boston College, 123
 
Schedule of Events
Saturday, Feb. 18 - 9:30 a.m. - Prelims
200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, Men’s Platform

Saturday, Feb. 18 - 2 p.m. - Finals
1650 Free (Early Heats-Finals)

Saturday, Feb. 18 - 5:30 p.m. - Finals
1650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, Men’s Platform, 400 Free Relay