@CanesSwimDive Finishes Strong at ACC Championships
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami ended its run at the 2016 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships Saturday, finishing one spot better than last year’s trip to the same event.
The Hurricanes, who ended in eighth place with 502.5 points, bested ACC rival Florida State (444.5), Pitt (425), Georgia Tech (356), Boston College (152) and Clemson (86) at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
“We finished up really well,” head coach Andy Kershaw said. “We ended up with seven school records over the last few days. Certainly a total team effort from the whole meet, whether it was swimmers or divers. Our team showed a lot of heart.”
Junior Christina Leander took down the first Miami record on the day, finishing with a time of 1:56.98 in the 200 yard backstroke for a second-place finish in the “C” final. The performance was one of two NCAA “B” cuts in the event for the Hurricanes, who saw freshman Roxanne Yu post one of her own with a time of 1:58.86 (fifth, “C” final).
Miami had two more “B” cut times in the next event. Sophomore Julie Suarez accomplished the feat with a time of 49.93 in the morning’s preliminary round, while sophomore Ksenia Yuskova did it in the “C” final with a time of 49.77.
“Those were two great swims, very tough,” Kershaw said. “It showed a lot of character out of both of them.”
Competing in one of her signature breaststroke events, junior Julia Schippert posted a “B” cut time of 2:14.78 Saturday night in the “B” final. She posted a time of 2:15.02 in preliminaries.
“Julia had already had a ‘B’ cut time earlier this season, but she got it again tonight,” Kershaw said. “It was great to see her battle. I know she was a little disappointed with this morning, and she really fought back and made the right corrections to have a great swim tonight.”
Junior Angela Algee, one of Miami’s top point-getters all season long, finished with a time of 2:01.10 in the “B” final of the 200 fly.
“She was a little disappointed with that, but she had a great meet for us,” Kershaw said. “She was nails all week, scored tons of points, and I’m really proud of her.”
Miami added significant points when Wally Layland made her second trip to the podium in Greensboro. The sophomore finished with a score of 300.80 on the platform, finishing second in the event to capture a silver medal.
Redshirt junior diver Tanner Wilfong posted one of the best performances of his career at the ACC Championships, taking silver in the men’s platform with a score of 422.00. Wilfong added to Miami’s diving medal count, which included two golds from teammate Briadam Herrera.
The Hurricanes closed the meet with its final school record-breaking performance. The Hurricanes entry in the 400 free relay – comprised of Suarez, senior My Fridell, Yuskova and Algee – touched the wall in a time of 3:18.99.
The performance bested a record set in 2011.
“The spirit they showed, after everything they had been through the whole year, with the adversity of the pool renovations and practicing off campus – it built such a strong team and such a close team,” Kershaw said. “They really bonded together and rallied together for a great, great meet.”
Kershaw said he was proud of the way the Hurricanes performed against stiff competition.
“It’s a great feeling when you see them work so hard and see them get great results at the end,” Kershaw said. “I’m very proud and excited for this group, and all they’ve accomplished thus far.”
