Swimming And Diving Looks To Continue Progression

Addison Smith
200-yard freestyle
University of North Carolina Swimming and Diving v Georgia Tech
Koury Natatorium
Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, November 5, 2021

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 26, 2022 | Swimming & Diving

By: Jody Jones

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina swimming and diving teams are set to begin the 2022-23 season with a mix of veterans and newcomers that are expected to make more strides under fourth-year head coach Mark Gangloff.

"As a program, we're moving up," Gangloff said. "Where our program is at right now is the best it's been since I've been here. Our primary focus is just being better than we have been until this point in time.

"Looking back at the results from this same time last year, our program as a whole is much further ahead than it was so that is a positive signal that we're in a better place than we have been in previous seasons."

The Tar Heels return 14 letterwinners that competed at the NCAA Championship meet last season, including All-America sprinters Grace Countie and Ellie VanNote along with divers Anton Down-Jenkins and Aranza Vazquez.

Sophie Lindner, Olivia Nel, and Greer Pattison received All-America honors as members of the Tar Heels relay teams as did Countie and VanNote.

Countie holds the school record in the 50 free and 100 back, and VanNote owns the UNC record in the 50 fly.

Down-Jenkins and Vazquez set the standards on both the one and three-meter springboard competitions in the men's and women's record books, respectively.

Those veterans are joined by 21 newcomers.

"It's a big class, so it's a little daunting," Gangloff stated. "As freshmen, you have to teach them about what competing at the collegiate level and managing a college schedule looks like. So far, they've done an excellent job and are looking strong."

The Carolina women's team finished 14th at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships and fourth at the ACC Championships, while the men's squad placed 27th at the national championship meet and seventh in the conference title chase.

Down-Jenkins claimed the gold in the men's one-meter diving competitions and the silver in the men's three-meter diving, while Countie earned the bronze medal in the women's 50 free and the conference championship meet.

Countie, Linder, and VanNote teamed with Lilly Higgs, who graduated last season, to earn the bronze in the 400-medley relay.

"All of our relay units have set the goal of breaking the school record this season and I think that's a reasonable and attainable goal," Gangloff said.

UNC will host four dual meets this season at Koury Natatorium, welcoming Queens University of Charlotte, South Carolina, and Duke for head-to-head competition with NC State and Virginia visiting as part of a two-day, two-city meet.

"The first few dual meets are not against our primary rivals, they're against competition that builds up as the season goes on," Gangloff said. "As the season progresses so does the intensity of the meets. We've got a big mile marker against South Carolina on November 5 before our meets with NC State, Virginia, and Duke in January.

"This team is more connected and unified, and we are moving toward our goals collectively better than we ever had. What has me excited is the vibe that the team is giving me and their coachability at this time is higher than it's ever been."

The Tar Heels will open the season Friday, Sept. 30, against Queens University of Charlotte at Koury Natatorium.