Swim / Dive Puts Together Strong Day 1 at ACCs
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Miami Hurricanes enjoyed a strong start to the 2020 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships Wednesday on the first day of competition.
Headlined by podium trips from freshman divers Brodie Scapens and Max Flory, the Hurricanes built some early momentum at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Scapens and Flory, competing in their first ever ACC Championships, took second and third, respectively, in the men’s 3-meter springboard.
“They put together their best 3-meter list of dives to this point, so they had an excellent day,” head diving coach Randy Ableman said. “We would have liked to have won tonight, but they’re young and we’ll be back strong. It was a close contest.”
Miami’s swimming contingent put together strong times in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 800-yard free relay, leaving head coach Andy Kershaw impressed with his team’s resolve.
“It was a really good night for us,” Kershaw said. “Putting everything in perspective, I think this was maybe one of the best first nights we’ve ever had at the ACC Championships, given the fact that it’s not our strongest two events.
“A lot of things happened within tonight’s events that showed a lot of promise for the rest of the meet.”
Kershaw said sophomore Zorry Mason “rocked” her breaststroke, checking in with a record time of 27.20 to set the tone for the event after junior Alaina Skellett had a time of 26.09 in the backstroke. Following behind Mason were freshman Isabel Traba, who had her best butterfly split (24.87), and junior co-captain Sydney Knapp, who had her best freestyle split (22.54).
Miami’s entry in the event finished with a time of 1:40.70, besting their seeded time of 1:41.82.
The Hurricanes’ 800-yard freestyle relay followed the medley’s lead. Junior Carmen San Nicolas had her best 200-yard freestyle time ever in her signature event (1:48.74), while Knapp crushed her best time in the event (1:47.68).
Traba put another good relay under her belt with a time of 1:52.62 and senior co-captain Claire McGinnis finished strong at 1:51.60.
“Tonight was a really good start and I think we’re on a roll, and only getting better from here,” Kershaw said. “We can’t wait to see what the Canes do when we’re in full force, and we get a shot to see what the whole team can do tomorrow morning. We’re looking forward to it.”
Freshman Mia Vallee was ninth in the 1-meter (272.55) preliminaries, just missing out on the night’s finals, while sophomore Millie Haffety was 13th (246.10).
“Each one could have dove just a little better, but they were very close to making the finals and their best day is tomorrow,” Ableman said. “We have high hopes.”
Action continues Thursday from the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
