March 28, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Florida State highlights the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference swimming and diving awards list as the Seminoles notched three of the four individual superlatives, announced Wednesday by the league office. FSU freshman Terry Horner was selected both ACC Diver and Freshman of the Year and Seminole head coach Neil Harper took ACC Coach of the Year honors. Virginia's Pat Mellors was the top pick as the league's Swimmer of the Year.

All of the awards were determined by a vote of the league's head coaches.

Mellors, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., turned in stellar performances this year as the junior shattered conference records in both in the 200 and 400 individual medley events and collected All-America citations at the 2007 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. He was also part of the 800 freestyle relay team that received NCAA honorable mention All-America honors. Mellors, a three-event all-league performer at the 2007 ACC Championships, continued Virginia's winning tradition in the 200 and 400 IMs as he successfully defended both events for the third consecutive year. He was also part of the winning 800 free relay team that set a new ACC meet and pool record in the event.

Horner becomes the second student-athlete in ACC swimming and diving history to capture both ACC Diver and Freshman of the Year accolades. The Orlando, Fla., product capped off an impressive rookie campaign as the 2007 NCAA men's 1-meter diving champion and garnered All-America status. He also received All-American recognition at the NCAA Championships, placing eighth in the 3-meter diving. Horner was an all-conference diver at this year's ACC Championships, finishing runner-up in the 3-meter.

Florida State head coach Neil Harper added another coaching hardware to his collection as he was picked ACC Coach of the Year by his peers. Harper, a two-time ACC Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, picked up his first men's coaching honor after guiding the Seminoles to their first-ever ACC league crown in 2007. Under Harper's helm this past year, there have been one national individual champion, three NCAA All-Americans, two individual and one relay NCAA honorable mention All-Americans, and 13 All-ACC performers.

ACC Swimmer of the Year
Pat Mellors, Virginia

ACC Diver of the Year
Terry Horner, Florida State

ACC Freshman of the Year
Terry Horner, Florida State

ACC Coach of the Year
Neil Harper, Florida State

-- ACC --