Oct. 27, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina junior Joe Kinderwater and Virginia Tech sophomore Erika Hajnal were honored as the first ACC Swimming and Diving Performers of the Week in the 2009-10 season, announced today. Kinderwater led the Tar Heel men to an upset win over Georgia (Oct. 23), while Hajnal posted a pair of top-two finishes against Virginia (Oct. 21).

Kinderwater keyed North Carolina’s 156-144 upset of Georgia with victories in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle over 2009 NCAA champion Troy Prinsloo. The Lancaster, Pa. native out-battled Prinsloo in the 1,650-free by the smallest of margins, .78 seconds, and his 9:05.20 time in the event is the top time in the ACC this season. Kinderwater finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 4:30.70, which ranks third in the league to date.

Hajnal won the 400-yard individual medley and placed second in the 1,650-yard free, despite a 180-120 loss to Virginia. The Budapest, Hungary native raced to a first-place finish in 4:23.22, which stands as the second-best mark in the league this season. Hajnal followed that performance with a time of 16:41.20 in the 1,650 freestyle to place second.

The ACC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Performers of the Week will be announced by 5 p.m. each Tuesday during the season. More ACC swimming and diving information can be accessed at theACC.com.