Feb. 28, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The Virginia Cavaliers won their 12th ACC Crown on Saturday night at the 2009 ACC Men's Swimming and Diving Championship in Maryland's Eppley Recreation Center.

The Wahoos' Matt McLean raked in his second consecutive ACC Championship Most Valuable Swimmer by winning the 200, 500 and 1650 Free events in dominating fashion. Miami's Rueben Ross was named ACC Championship Most Valuable Diver as he won both the 1M and 3M events and took second on the platform. McLean became the first swimmer to repeat as MVP while Ross took his second career honor.

Virginia took the Championship with 832 points followed by Florida State (640), North Carolina (504.5) and Georgia Tech (474.5).

Virginia's McLean demolished the ACC record in the 1650 Free by over 10 seconds to take his third gold medal of the Championships in 14:25.12. Second place Taylor Smith (UVA) touched the wall in 14:45.00 to secure his first silver medal of the meet. Florida State's Kyle Young edged North Carolina's Joe Kinderwater for third place in 14:36.68. The top four finishers all earned automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships.

Andy Hodgson earned Florida State's first title of the meet by re-setting his own ACC record and winning the 200 Back in 1:41.14. He bested Clemson's Tom Recko (1:43.01) and North Carolina's Tommy Wyher (1:43.34). With the fast swim, Hodgson punched his ticket for the NCAA Championships with an automatic berth.

Virginia's Scot Robison backed up his league record from the prelims in the 100 free to take first place in the 100 Free with a time of 43.14. Florida State's Jarryd Botha took second place in 43.28. He was followed by Georgia Tech's Noah Copeland (43.33). Virginia earned back-to-back wins when Ryan Hurley took the 200 Breast in 1:55.14. Georgia Tech's Gal Nevo was denied his breaststroke double as he took second in 1:55.27. Florida State's Rob Holderness finished third in 1:56.06.

Virginia's Pat Reams took top honors in the 200 Fly with a top time of 1:43.82. North Carolina's Jason McLaughlin earned the silver in 1:44.46 while Cavalier Lee Robertson took third in 1:45.42. Reams set the meet record in the prelims with a time of 1:43.51.

Florida State's Dan Frebel won the platform diving event with a six-dive total of 434.50, breaking the meet record in the event. Miami's Rueben Ross took second place (431.30), falling shy of his bid for the diving trifecta. Virginia Tech's Mikey McDonald finished third with a score of 357.40.

Virginia won the 400 Free Relay in 2:51.50 to set a new ACC record by three seconds. Florida State took second place (2:52.03) while Georgia Tech took the bronze medal in 2:54.72.

The ACC record book was re-written in the meet as 13 ACC records fell and 15 new meet marks were posted.