2025 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships
Wednesday Evening Highlights
The 2025 ACC Championships kicked off this evening with thrilling finals. Fans were eager to watch the fast-paced action, starting with the women’s 200 free relay. Last year, Virginia set a record here, and they’ve surpassed everyone’s expectations with the fastest time in the NCAA this season, leading by more than a second. On the men’s side, NC State, the current ACC champions, are looking to defend their title against the Cal Bears, who have three returning team members from last year’s runner-up squad.
Next up was the 500 free. Virginia’s Leah Hayes took the lead in the prelims, posting a time of 1:54.18, but Stanford made a strong showing with three women in the A-final. On the men’s side, Cal’s Lucas Henveaux led the A-final with a time of 4:12.42.
Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh has a shot at breaking her own record in the 50 free after posting an impressive 20.87 in prelims. In contrast, four men swam under 19 seconds, with Cal’s Jack Alexy clocking in at 18.71. This really highlighted the intense competition across all heats.
As the evening progressed, the A-final of the men’s 1m diving event brought excitement as well. Stanford’s Jack Ryan qualified at the top with 392.85 points, but he will face fierce competition from Miami’s 2023 champion Max Flory and Georgia Tech’s Max Fowler, who won the 3m event the night before.
Women’s 200 Free Relay
- NCAA Record: 1:23.63, Virginia – 2024 ACC Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 1:23.63, Virginia – 2024
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.42
The Virginia women took home the title with a time of 1:24.03, marking another impressive performance. Claire Curzan led off with a strong 21.40, followed by Gretchen Walsh, who recorded a near 20-second split of 20.02. This victory secured the Cavaliers’ sixth consecutive title in this event, a record streak in the ACC.
Men’s 200 Free Relay
- NCAA Record: 1:13.35, Florida – 2023 NCAA Championships
- ACC Record: 1:14.13, NC State – 2024 NCAA Championships
NC State emerged victorious in a meet-record time of 1:14.29, showcasing solid teamwork and speed. Cal secured second place with 1:15.10, while Virginia Tech rounded out the top three with 1:15.53.
Women’s 500 Free Final
In the 500 free, UVA freshman Katie Grimes led the way, finishing in 4:32.69, just ahead of Stanford’s Aurora Roghair at 4:32.88. This race showed the strength of the UVA women, with three finishing in the top four spots.
Men’s 500 Free Final
Cal’s Lucas Henveaux not only won the men’s 500 free with a remarkable 4:08.83 but also broke a 15-year-old meet record. This performance showcased the dominance of the Cal Bears in distance events this season.
Final Thoughts
The Championships have already set the stage for thrilling performances. As events continue, fans can look forward to more races filled with fierce competition and impressive records.
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Aimee Canny,Alex Walsh,Amelia Bodenstab,Aurora Roghair,Bailey Hartman,Bjorn Seeliger,Brendan Whitfield,Carles Coll Marti,Caroline Larsen,Cavan Gormsen,Chase Travis,Claire Curzan,Daria Golovaty,David King,Drew Salls,Gabriel Jett,Gretchen Walsh,Henry McFadden,Jack Alexy,Jack Forrest,Jack Ryan,Jerry Fox,Julia Dennis,Kayla Wilson,Lance Norris,Leah Hayes,Luca Battaglini,Lucas HENVEAUX,Luke Miller,Mario Molla Yannes,Max Flory,Max Fowler,Maxine Parker,Maya Geringer,Natalie Mannion,Owen Lloyd,Quintin McCarty,Torri Huske,Tyler Kopp,Will Hayon,Youssef Ramadan
