Cooper Wins Gold, Swimming Sets Another Record
ATLANTA — University of Miami veteran diver Zach Cooper defended his conference title in the men’s platform Friday night, earning his second straight gold medal in the event at the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming & Diving Championships.
Cooper’s gold medal upped his career count to five in the event, which includes three silvers and two golds. Max Flory captured a bronze medal in the platform at the McAuley Aquatic Center, finishing just behind Cooper to bring Miami’s diving medal count to seven over four days.
“Just keep zoning in on my dives and keep everything going,” Cooper said about his keys to success. “Figure out what my come-outs and everything, and be ready for whatever’s next.”
In addition to two medals on the boards, the Hurricanes’ 400-yard medley relay team, comprised of Danika Huizinga, Emma Sundstrand, Zorry Mason and veteran Carmen San Nicolas, set a school record in 3:37.27.
“It ended a great with the 400 medley relay record, which we had set earlier in the year,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “To re-break it was great. I’m very proud of the team and how they’re handling things. It’s a battle. A lot of days, you have to be ready to go again, again and again. The team is persevering through that and really stepping up.”
The Hurricanes also saw four swimmers earn return trips to the night’s final round Friday: Sundstrand, who earned a spot in the ‘B’ final of the 100-yard breaststroke, along with Huizinga (100-yard backstroke), Mason (100-yard breast) and Giulia Carvalho (100-yard breast).
“”Pretty happy with where we’re at. Great to have a lot of swims tonight. I was super proud of Danika, who was a great addition for us this year,” Kershaw said. “She stepped up tonight and this morning. Our breaststroke group, we feel like we’ve been pretty strong for a number of years, to see three in the 100 was very gratifying and a credit to the work they’ve put in.”
The ACC Swimming & Diving Championships wrap up Saturday in Atlanta.
