Cardinals Win Three Golds and Two Bronzes on Final Night of ACC Championships

The members of the 400 Free Relay team on the podium with their gold medals

Cardinals Win Three Golds and Two Bronzes on Final Night of ACC Championships

February 23, 2019 | Swimming & Diving

2019 Women's Saturday Finals Results 2019 ACC Full Meet Results

Comerford Named Most Valuable Swimmer of the Meet

By: Nancy Worley

The University of Louisville women won three gold and two bronzes and finished third in the 2019 ACC Swimming and Diving in the final night of competition at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Cardinal senior Mallory Comerford won her second Most Valuable Swimmer Award to cap off a stellar ACC career.

NC State won the meet with 1,335 points edging Virginia's 1,282. Louisville followed with 1,146, ahead of Notre Dame (909.5), Duke I764), Florida State (727), North Carolina (700.5), Virginia Tech (477.5), Georgia Tech (360), Pitt (334), Miami (293.5) and Boston College (154).

In the first event of the evening, distance specialist Sophie Cattermole broke up a NC State sweep of the 1650 freestyle when she touched fourth with a time of 16:07.90. The event was won by the Wolfpack's Tamila Holub who swam a 15:56.91 just ahead of teammate Anna Johns, who finished only five one-hundredths behind Holub. NC State took third and fifth place.

Senior Alina Kendzior put up a 1:54.89 for fifth in the B-final of the 200 backstroke after teammate Ashlyn Schoof touched seventh in the C-final of the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:57.08. The event was won by NC State freshman Emma Muzzy who pushed ahead at the very last second for a time of 1:51.66.

Mallory Comerford won her third gold and set a new meet record with a 46.57 in the 100 freestyle, bettering her own record from a year ago of 46.65. Lainey Visscher touched fifth in the A-final with a time of 48.54. Casey Fanz touched second in 48.70 in the B-final and Arina Openysheva put up a 49.31 in the B-Final. Louisville's Avery Braunecker posted a 49.31 in the C-final of the 100 freestyle.

"It is an emotional moment to think that this is the last ACC Championship. I have loved seeing this conference grow and grow faster. All the Cardinals before me paved the way for me and I hope what I accomplished inspires my teammates after I graduate. I am excited to get ready for NCAAs," said Comerford.

Morgan Friesen took bronze in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:09.05 for a lifetime best. Teammate Mariia Astashkina touched fourth in the A-Final. She Astashkina was the defending champion in the event, and while she was a little off last year's winning time of 2:09.01,!Lauren James put up a 2:14.49 in the B-final of the 200 breaststroke In the C-final of the 200 breaststroke, Kaylee Wheeler touches second with a time of 2:12.87. The event was won by NC State freshman Sophie Hansson, who made it a breaststroke sweep, winning by over two seconds, in 2:06.73.

Grace Oglesby took home gold in the 200 Butterfly with a meet record of 1:52.81, which is an NCAA A-Cut to defend her title from 2018. Freshman Alena Kraus won bronze with a time of 1:55.06. Maria Sumida was fourth in the B-final with a 1:59.15 and Carley Lowe touched 5th in the C-final.

"It was great to get the win especially racing next to my teammate Alena Kraus, who has pushed me and trained with me all year. It was the best feeling in the world," said Oglesby.

The Cards won the 400 Free Relay with a dazzling split of 46.68 from Mallory Comerford, who took UofL from 7th to 1st for 3:11.63. Lainey Visscher (48.73), Mallory Comerford (46.68), Casey Fanz (48.04) and Arina Openysheva (48.18) are atop the podium.

The Cardinals will continue to train in anticipation of their NCAA appearance March 20-24 in Austin, Texas.