Wednesday, March 24
Greensboro, N.C.
10 AM Prelims/6 PM Finals
North Carolina
vs
NCAA Men's Championship
11 To Compete At NCAA Men's Swim/Dive Championships
March 23, 2021 | Swimming & Diving
CHAPEL HILL — The 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships begin Wednesday and runs through Saturday night for the 22nd-ranked Tar Heels, who will send a total of 11 student-athletes to the competition.
The championships will be held March 24-27 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Senior Valdas Abaliksta has qualified for both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events. He ranks 15th in the 100 breast, and 21st in the 200 breast.
Junior Tomas Sungalia is 27th in the 200-yard freestyle and will compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Freshman Boyd Poelke ranks 27th in the 100 butterfly and 39th in the 200 fly. Additionally, senior Jack Messenger is 32nd in the 100 butterfly and will also compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
The Tar Heels have four swimmers that will compete exclusively in the relay events. That group includes seniors Eli Coan and Daniel Koenigsperger, junior Tucker Burhans and freshman Patrick Hussey.
UNC will compete in the 200- and 800-yard freestyle relays, and the 200- and 400-yard medley relays.
Carolina has three divers that will compete this week. ACC and NCAA Zone B Champion Anton Down-Jenkins and sophomore Alex Hart are slated to participate in the 1- and 3-meter events, while sophomore Fabian Stepinski qualified for the 1-meter.
How to Watch
Live championship coverage will air on ESPN3 for preliminary and finals sessions Wednesday through Saturday.
SCHEDULE
Wed., March 24
6 p.m. finals
800 Freestyle Relay
Thur., March 25
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
200 Freestyle Relay, 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, 1-meter diving, 400 Medley Relay
Fri., March 26
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, 3-meter diving, 200 Medley Relay
Sat., March 27
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
1,650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, Platform diving, 400 Freestyle Relay
Tar Heel Competitors
Valdas Abaliksta
• 100 Breast - 51.74 (15th)
• 200 Breast - 1:53.49 (21st)
Tucker Burhans
• Medley Relay
Eli Coan
• Relay
Patrick Hussey
• Relay
Daniel Koenigsperger
• Relay
Jack Messenger
• 100 Fly - 46.28 (32nd)
• 50 Free - 19.64 (43rd)
• 100 Free - 43.63 (53rd)
Boyd Poelke
• 100 Fly - 45.98 (27th)
• 200 Fly - 1:44.75 (39th)
Tomas Sungaila
• 200 Free - 1:33.87 (27th)
• 50 Free - 19.84 (50th)
• 100 Free - 43.39 (49th)
Anton Down-Jenkins
• 1-Meter
• 3-Meter
Alex Hart
• 1-Meter
• 3-Meter
Fabian Stepinski
• 1-Meter
The championships will be held March 24-27 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Senior Valdas Abaliksta has qualified for both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events. He ranks 15th in the 100 breast, and 21st in the 200 breast.
Junior Tomas Sungalia is 27th in the 200-yard freestyle and will compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Freshman Boyd Poelke ranks 27th in the 100 butterfly and 39th in the 200 fly. Additionally, senior Jack Messenger is 32nd in the 100 butterfly and will also compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
The Tar Heels have four swimmers that will compete exclusively in the relay events. That group includes seniors Eli Coan and Daniel Koenigsperger, junior Tucker Burhans and freshman Patrick Hussey.
UNC will compete in the 200- and 800-yard freestyle relays, and the 200- and 400-yard medley relays.
Carolina has three divers that will compete this week. ACC and NCAA Zone B Champion Anton Down-Jenkins and sophomore Alex Hart are slated to participate in the 1- and 3-meter events, while sophomore Fabian Stepinski qualified for the 1-meter.
How to Watch
Live championship coverage will air on ESPN3 for preliminary and finals sessions Wednesday through Saturday.
SCHEDULE
Wed., March 24
6 p.m. finals
800 Freestyle Relay
Thur., March 25
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
200 Freestyle Relay, 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, 1-meter diving, 400 Medley Relay
Fri., March 26
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, 3-meter diving, 200 Medley Relay
Sat., March 27
10 a.m. trials | 6 p.m. finals
1,650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, Platform diving, 400 Freestyle Relay
Tar Heel Competitors
Valdas Abaliksta
• 100 Breast - 51.74 (15th)
• 200 Breast - 1:53.49 (21st)
Tucker Burhans
• Medley Relay
Eli Coan
• Relay
Patrick Hussey
• Relay
Daniel Koenigsperger
• Relay
Jack Messenger
• 100 Fly - 46.28 (32nd)
• 50 Free - 19.64 (43rd)
• 100 Free - 43.63 (53rd)
Boyd Poelke
• 100 Fly - 45.98 (27th)
• 200 Fly - 1:44.75 (39th)
Tomas Sungaila
• 200 Free - 1:33.87 (27th)
• 50 Free - 19.84 (50th)
• 100 Free - 43.39 (49th)
Anton Down-Jenkins
• 1-Meter
• 3-Meter
Alex Hart
• 1-Meter
• 3-Meter
Fabian Stepinski
• 1-Meter
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly, Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly, Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Distance Free, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & DivingCarolina Insider - Interview with Caleb Wilson (Full Segment) - September 22, 2025
Monday, September 22
UNC Volleyball: Thorpe Sets New Career High in 4-Set Win vs ECU
Sunday, September 21
UNC Field Hockey: Heck's 5 Goals Propel Heels Over Stanford, 8-1
Sunday, September 21
UNC Men's Soccer: Tar Heels Fight for 1-1 Draw vs SMU
Sunday, September 21