University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Place Second in ACC Women's Swimming Championships
June 21, 1999 | Swimming & Diving
February 20, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 21st-ranked University of North Carolina women's swimming and diving team did not attain its ultimate goal Saturday night at the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Championship at the University of Maryland, but the team did continue a remarkable streak of consistency even though it had to settle for a second-place finish.
Defending champion Virginia captured the championship, the Wahoos' third in the 21-year history of the meet, but Coach Frank Comfort's team, which is had only 2-3 in ACC dual meets during the regular season, swam well during the three days and placed second. That marked the 21st straight year that the Tar Heel women have finished either first or second in the conference meet, a remarkable streak of consistency. Since the ACC first sponsored an ACC women's swimming championship in 1979, Carolina teams have now won 12 championships and finished as the runner-up the other nine times. Clemson has earned four titles over the years, Virginia claimed its third Saturday and N.C. State won the first two titles in 1979 and 1980.
ACC teams will now wait on which individuals and relays have earned bids to compete in the NCAA Championships at Athens, Ga., March 18-20, 1999.
The University of Virginia won two individual events and one relay Saturday night and went on to claim the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference women's swimming and diving championships. The Cavaliers' strength in the sprint events and in diving for just too much for the Tar Heel team to overcome.
It is the second straight title and third overall for the 19th-ranked Cavaliers, who outdistanced No. 21 North Carolina 766.5 to 699.5. Host Maryland, which totaled 446 points, placed third for its highest finish in school history. No. 22 Clemson (429) was fourth, North Carolina State (417) was fifth, Florida State (409) was sixth, and Duke (154) was seventh.
Danica Wizniuk, a freshman from Virginia who won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke titles, was named the meet's outstanding swimmer. North Carolina State senior Marica McKeel, who swept the one- and three-meter diving events, was named the meet's outstanding diver. Virginia coach Mark Bernardino was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Two individuals met NCAA automatic qualifying standards with their performances Saturday night: Clemson's Jennifer Mihalik in the 200-yard backstroke and Virginia's Wizniuk in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Here is a look, in sequence, at Saturday night's events:
North Carolina freshman Molly Sullivan easily claimed the title in the 1650-yard freestyle, posting a 10-second win over freshman Jenna Hough of Maryland. Sullivan clocked a time of 16:38.94, Hough finished second in a time of 16:48.37. Sullivan's time was the fifth fastest in UNC school history and it was also a career best for the Las Vegas, Nevada freshman.
Clemson's Jennifer Mihalik repeated her 1998 league title in the 200-yard backstroke and set an ACC record in the process by finishing first in a time of 1:57.97. Freshman Carina Tennessen of Maryland was second in 2:00.01 and UNC freshman Heather Stiles of Chapel Hill, N.C. was third in a career best time of 2:00.77.
Rebecca Cronk of Virginia captured her second individual title of the meet, adding the 100-yard freestyle crown to her 50-yard freestyle title which she captured on Thursday night. Cronk finished first with a time of 49.49 to edge Meg McCubbins of Virginia (50.08). North Carolina freshman Stefanie Rulis of Lexington, Ky. finished in third place with a career best time of 50.76 seconds. UNC junior Jennifer Strasburger of Mercer Island, Wash. Was 10th in the event and had a career best 51.36 time.
The second ACC record of the night to fall came in the 200-yard breaststroke when freshman Danica Wizniuk of Virginia clocked a time of 2:11.82. Led by Wizniuk, the top three finishers in the event were all freshmen. The win completed a meet double for Wizniuk, who captured the 100 breaststroke title on Friday night. Carolina freshman Katie Hathaway of Matthews, N.C. finished second in the event with a time of 2:14.51, a Carolina school record.
North Carolina cut heavily into Virginia's lead by finishing 1-3-4-5 in the 100 butterfly. Tar Heel freshman Melissa Fiss led the way with a winning effort of 2:00.21, finishing nearly two seconds ahead of the Cavaliers' Emily Carrig, the defending conference champion. The next three places all belonged to North Carolina swimmers--Kelly McLaughlin (2:02.30), Kristin Lozeau (2:02.42) and Ilana Kavadlo (2:03.67).
Marica McKeel, a senior from North Carolina State, captured the 3-meter diving event to go with her one-meter title she won on Friday. It is the third ACC diving title for McKeel, who won the one-meter event a year ago.
Virginia clinched the team title with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay, setting an ACC record in 3:20.09.
1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
Campus Recreation Center Natatorium, College Park, Md.
Results for Saturday, February 20, 1999
Event 14: 1650-yard Freestyle
Timed Final-- 1. Molly Sullivan (UNC), 16:38.94&; 2. Jenna Hough (UMD), 16:48.37&; 3. Sharon Riedlinger (UVA), 16:53.54; 4. Emily Fess (NCS), 16:53.77; 5. Laura Sullivan (UVA), 16:56.41; 6. Bridget Vogelsang (UVA), 16:58.95; 7. Lisa Kirsch (FSU), 16:59.52; 8. Amy Armond (DU), 17:06.30; 9. Jennie Gardner (UNC), 17:12.02; 10. Leigh Ann Caldwell (NCS), 17:12.74; 11. Susan Vogt (NCS), 17:12.83; 12. Katie Cramm (UVA), 17:12.96; 13. Jill Spitzfaden (DU), 17:19.32; 14. Amber McClain (FSU), 17:32.09; 15. Cindy Schuster (NCS), 17:34.90; 16. Kristina McRoberts (FSU), 17:35.42.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 552; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 502; 3. MARYLAND 332; 4. FLORIDA STATE 310; 5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 268; 6. CLEMSON 260; 7. DUKE 108.
Event 15: 200-Yard Backstroke
Championship Finalists -- 1. Jennifer Mihalik (CU), 1:57.97*@; 2. Carina Tennessen (UMD), 2:00.01&; 3. Heather Stiles (UNC), 2:00.77&; 4. Meghan Iffland (UVA), 2:01.17&; 5. Kelsey Durkin (UNC), 2:02.43; 6. Charlie Reasons (CU), 2:04.18; 7. Kathleen Tonini (NCS), 2:05.35; 8. Summer Washburn (FSU), 2:05.35.
Consolation Finalists-- 9. Lauren Rafferty (CU), 2:03.72; 10. Ginny Kirouac (CU), 2:03.73; 11. Brianna Gerrity (UMD), 2:03.97; 12. Liska Dedekind (FSU), 2:05.26; 13. Betsey Stewart (DU), 2:05.39; 14. Carolina Douglas (CU), 2:06.38; 15. Jen Napier (UVA), 2:07.55; 16. Stephanie Scott (UMD), 2:10.84.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 569; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 532; 3. MARYLAND 356; 4. FLORIDA STATE 326; 5. CLEMSON 312; 6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 280; 7. DUKE 112.
Event 16: 100-Yard Freestyle
Championship Finalists-- 1. Rebecca Cronk (UVA), 49:49!&; 2. Meg McCubbins (UVA), 50.08&; 3. Stefanie Rulies (UNC), 50.76&; 4. Emily Trakas (UVA), 50.82&; 5. Tanya Gurr (FSU), 50.90; 6. Katy Novotny (UMD), 50.95; 7. Kelly Bowman (UMD), 51.00; 8. Kim Piotro (UMD), 51.08;
Consolation Finalists-- 9. Wendy Henson (CU), 51.15; 10. Jennifer Strasburger (UNC), 51.36; 11. Megan Roesch (UVA), 51.36; 12. Kathy Lowry (CU), 51.39; 13. Julie Gehm (UVA), 51.56; 14. Kristen Adams (FSU), 51.65; 15. Sarah Solomon (UMD), 51.73; 16. Jeanine Lloyd (UMD), 51.74.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 631.50; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 554.50; 3. MARYLAND 395; 4. FLORIDA STATE 343; 5. CLEMSON 326; 6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 280; 7. DUKE 112.
Event 17: 200-Yard Breaststroke
Championship Finalists-- 1. Danica Wizniuk (UVA), 2:11.82*@; 2. Katie Hathaway (UNC), 2:14.51&; 3. Kate Slonaker (UVA), 2:16.98&; 4. Erika Acuff (UNC), 2:17.44&; 5. Samantha White (FSU), 2:20.70; 6. Cody Gelvin (NCS), 2:21.10; 7. Joann Overton (UNC), 2:22.58; 8. Jenny Short (NCS), 2:23.22.
Consolation Finalists-- 9. Cami Sink (CU), 2:18.53; 10. Deanne Moyer (UMD), 2:21.62; 11. Heather Winter (DU), 2:22.27; 12. Amy Suppinger (CU), 2:23.14; 13. Carmen Baker (NCS), 2:24.11; 14. Sherri Fowler (FSU), 2:24.65; 15. Monica Nista (UVA), 2:25.04; 16. Rachel Handshu (UMD), 2:27.58.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 669.50; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 598.50; 3. MARYLAND 403; 4. FLORIDA STATE 360; 5. CLEMSON 340; 6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 308; 7. DUKE 118.
Event 18: 200-Yard Butterfly
Championship Finalists-- 1. Melissa Fiss (UNC), 2:00.21&; 2. Emily Carrig (UVA), 2:02.20&; 3. Kelly McLaughlin (UNC), 2:02.30&; 4. Kristin Lozeau (UNC), 2:02.42&; 5. Ilana Kavadlo (UNC), 2:03.67&; 6. Valerie Zammitti (UVA), 2:03.73; 7. Cindy Schuster (NCS), 2:06.38; 8. Amy Armond (DU), 2:11.23.
Consolation Finalists-- 9. Lisa Bartlett (CU), 2:04.62; 10. Katie Mizell (CU), 2:04.80; 11. Kendra Kelly (CU) 2:06.06; 12. Mary Mittendorf (NCS), 2:06.13; 13. Marie Tomarelli (UMD), 2:06.60; 14. Allison Terrill (UNC), 2:06.86; 15. Shana Bullock (NCS), 2:07.51; 16. Leigh Ann Caldwell (NCS), 2:09.72.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 699.50; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 666.50; 3. MARYLAND 407; 4. CLEMSON 362; 5. FLORIDA STATE 360; 6. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 328; 7. DUKE 129.
Event 19: Three-Meter Diving
Championship Finals-- 1. Marica McKeel (NCS), 453.30; 2. Marya Sabesky (FSU), 434.85; 3. Betsey Potter (CU), 426.25; 4. Kelley Melton (NCS), 424.40; 5. Courtney Colbert (UVA), 412.40; 6. Ashley Smith (UVA), 409.75; 7. Shelly Cavaliere (NCS), 396.90; 8. Micheala Smith (CU), 387.90.
Consolation Finals-- 9. (tie). Nicole Vanderbeke (NCS), 368.35; 9. (tie) Aly Susterka (ICU), 368.35; 11. Erin Lambie (NCS), 361.20; 12. Ashleye (UMD), 355.60; 13. Caren Hirai (FSU), 350.90; 14. Holly Mills (UNC), 343.25; 15. Samantha McDonald (NCS), 339.15; 16. Kristy Guenther (DU), 338.70.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 726.50; 2. NORTHCAROLINA 669.50; 3. MARYLAND 412; 4. CLEMSON 397; 5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 391; 6. FLORIDA STATE 381; 7. DUKE 130.
Event 20: 400-Yard Freestyle Relay
1. Virginia (Emily Trakas, Megan Roesch, Rebecca Cronk, Meg McCubbins), 3:20.09*; 2. Maryland (Katy Novotny, Kim Piotro, Sarah Solomon, Kelly Bowman), 3:21.21; 3. Clemson (Wendy Henson, Kathy Lowry, J. Mihalik, Meagan Davis), 3:22.95; 4. North Carolina (Katie Hathaway, Stefanie Rulis, Erika Acuff, J. Srasburger), 3:23.15; 5. Florida State (A. Blatchford, Tanya Gurr, Kristen Adams, K. Holmstedt), 3:23.98; 6. North Carolina State (M. Mittendorf, B. Stergion, Karen Cone, Mandy Horn), 3:29.22; 7. Duke (Jamie Fleming, J. Spitzfaden, Susan Keeler, Jennifer Lee), 3:37.51.
TEAM SCORES: 1. VIRGINIA 766.50; 2. NORTH CAROLINA 699.50; 3. MARYLAND 446; 4. CLEMSON 429; 5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE 417; 6. FLORIDA STATE 409; 7. DUKE 154.
Swimmer of the Meet: Danica Wizniuk, University of Virginia
Diver of the Meet: Marica McKeel, North Carolina State
* - ACC Record
! - ACC Meet Record
& - NCAA Provisional Qualifier
@ - NCAA Automatic Qualifier
