March 22, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Atlantic Coast Conference capped off one of its most successful swimming and diving seasons last week as a total of 18 student-athletes were tabbed All-American at the 2007 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Minnesota, Minn.

Taking top honors for the league was Florida State's Terry Horner, who posted a season-best 399.35 points in the men's 1-meter diving event to capture the national title. The freshman from Orlando, Fla., became the first ACC diver since FSU joined the league in July 1991 to win the event. Horner is also the seventh student-athlete from the ACC to claim a national title since 2000.

In addition, the league had 12 individuals and five relay teams earn NCAA honorable mention All-America distinctions.

The conference produced more NCAA All-Americans in 2007 than last season (11), as both the men and women each tallied nine. The ACC men had two student-athletes collect All-America status in more than one event, while the women had one in Virginia Tech's Jessica Botzum (100 and 200 breaststroke).

Virginia's Pat Mellors turned in stellar performances at the national meet, as the three-time ACC 200 and 400 individual medley champion shattered conference records in both events to finish third (3:42.03) and seventh (1:45.61), respectively, and garner All-America status.

FSU's Horner was also an All-American in the 3-meter diving, placing eighth in the event with 383.15 points.

Joining Horner and Mellors as All-Americans on the men's side, included Florida State's Kyle Young (7th in 1650 free), Miami's Ruben Ross (4th in platform diving and 8th in 3M diving), North Carolina's Chip Peterson (6th in 1650 free), and Virginia's John Millen (8th in 1650 free).

Representing the ACC women were Florida State's Romy Altmann (7th in 200 back) and Lauren Brick (5th in 100 breast), Miami's Heather Bounds (5th in platform Diving), Jenna Dreyer (3rd in 1M diving) and Brittany Viola (6th in platform Diving), North Carolina's Whitney Sprague (3rd/1650 free), and Virginia Tech's Jessica Botzum (4th in 200 breast and 8th in 100 breast) and Sara Smith (7th in 100 free).

2006-07 NCAA INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION

Terry Horner, Florida State..................................................................................... Men's 1-Meter Diving

2006-07 NCAA ALL-AMERICANS

MEN
1. Terry Horner, Florida State..................................................................... 1-Meter Diving (399.35 points)
3. Pat Mellors, Virginia........................................................................... 400 Individual Medley (3:42.03)
4. Ruben Ross, Miami.............................................................................. Platform diving (369.15 points)
6. Chip Peterson, North Carolina........................................................................ 1650 Freestyle (14:55.53)
7. Kyle Young, Florida State.............................................................................. 1650 Freestyle (14:57.21)
7. Pat Mellors, Virginia........................................................................... 200 Individual Medley (1:45.61)
8. John Millen, Virginia.................................................................................... 1650 Freestyle (15:00.86)
8. Ruben Ross, Miami............................................................................... 1-Meter Diving (315.15 points)
8. Terry Horner, Florida State..................................................................... 3-Meter Diving (383.15 points)

WOMEN
3. Whitney Sprague, North Carolina................................................................... 1650 Freestyle (15:58.74)
3. Jenna Dreyer, Miami ............................................................................. 1-Meter Diving (350.55 points)
4. Jessica Botzum, Virginia Tech...................................................................... 200 Breaststroke (2:11.07)
5. Lauren Brick, Florida State........................................................................... 100 Breaststroke (1:00.55)
5. Heather Bounds, Miami....................................................................... Platform Diving (313.25 points)
6. Brittany Viola, Miami.......................................................................... Platform Diving (285.50 points)
7. Sara Smith, Virginia Tech.................................................................................... 100 Freestyle (49.09)
7. Romy Altmann, Florida State.......................................................................... 200 Backstroke (1:55.36)
8. Jessica Botzum, Virginia Tech...................................................................... 100 Breaststroke (1:01.30)

2006-07 NCAA HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICANS

MEN
9. Ruben Ross, Miami............................................................................... 3-Meter Diving (414.55 points)
10. Kyle Young, Florida State................................................................................ 500 Freestyle (4:19.51)
10. Stefan Hirniak, Virginia.................................................................................. 200 Butterfly (1:44.89)
11. Steve Roof, Florida State.............................................................................. 1650 Freestyle (15:03.15)
11. Vanja Rogulj, Virginia.................................................................................. 100 Breaststroke (53.73)
14. Chip Peterson, North Carolina.......................................................................... 500 Freestyle (4:20.39)
14. Vanja Rogulj, Virginia................................................................................ 200 Breaststroke (1:57.26)
15. Evan Stowers, Georgia Tech................................................................ Platform Diving (289.25 points)
14. Virginia's 800 Free Relay.......... Pat Mellors, Stefan Hirniak, John Millen, and Richard Hutton (6:30.06)
15. Florida State's 800 Free Relay............... Kyle Young, Alex Kennon, Ed Denton, and Steve Roof (6:30.40)

WOMEN
10. Sara Smith, Virginia Tech.................................................................................... 50 Freestyle (22.42)
14. Brittany Viola, Miami.......................................................................... 3-Meter Diving (291.35 points)
15. Whitney Sprague, North Carolina.................................................................... 500 Freestyle (4:44.68)
16. Heather Bounds, Miami.................... 1-Meter Diving (297.50 points) and 3-Meter Diving (266.35 points)
10. Florida State's 400 medley relay...................................... Romy Altmann, Lauren Brick, Lauren Sparg, and Christie Raleigh (3:36.98)
11. Florida State's 200 medley relay..................................... Christie Raleigh, Lauren Brick, Lauren Sparg, and Abbie King (1:39.95)
15. Virginia's 800 free relay.......... Megan Evo, Jessica Lewis, Stephanie Glover, and Jenna Harris (7:16.78)