Pitt
ACC Championships
Cash Crowned ACC Champion and Most Valuable Diver on Final Day of ACC Championships
2/24/2024 10:58:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
GREENSBORO, NC – The University of Pittsburgh swimming and diving team completed the final day of ACC Championships with a new crowned platform champion and two new school records, Saturday night.
The men's team secured seventh place overall to tie Pitt's highest team finish with their 647 total team points. The women's team placed tenth for the first time since 2020 and scored the highest total points (407) since the 2018 ACC Championships.
Cameron Cash collected his second gold medal of the week after placing first overall in the men's platform competition. His total score of 448.95 shattered the school record that was set by Dominic Giordano in 2015. With his performance this week, Cash was named the Diver of the ACC Championships Meet.
Also breaking records, the women's 400 free relay shattered the school record with their 3:15.92 time to finish seventh overall in the event.
PRELIMS
Pitt had a great start to the final day of competition as they placed 12 Panthers in the finals. Starting off strong with the 200 back, Parker Del Baso and Claire Jansen secured a spot in finals with their prelim swims. Jansen posted a 1:56.00 to earn a spot in the B final while Del Baso claimed a spot in the C final with her 1:57.47. For the men's team, Marcin Goraj earned himself a spot in the B final after clocking a time of 1:42.48
Continuing to shine, three Panthers posted strong swims in the 100 free prelims to claim a spot in the finals. Sophie Yendell put up a 49.50 – placing 19th overall in the prelims to secure a spot in the C final. Stepan Goncharov and Dominic Toledo clocked in at 42.65 and 43.31, respectively, in the men's 100 free prelims. Goncharov earned a new best time to secure his spot in the B final while Toledo got himself a spot in the C final. Krzysztof Radziszewski (44.02) and Guy Frimis (44.49) each posted new best times in the 100 free prelims this morning.
Pitt saw four Panthers secure a spot in the 200 breast finals after their prelim swims. Angelina Messina put her name on the 200 free C final heat sheet after finishing with a 2:16.02. On the men's side, fifth year Jerry Chen claimed his spot in the B final after clocking a new best time of 1:54.83 to secure ninth overall. Max Matteazzi was not far behind him – finishing in 12th place to earn his spot in the B final. Javi Zorzano rounded out the morning prelims – securing his spot in the men's 200 free C final after posting a 1:57.50.
All five of Pitt's divers scored points towards the team total score in the men's platform prelims. Cash crushed all six of his dives to secure the first place spot in the prelims. His total score of 360.55 earned him a spot in the platform finals. Jackson Salisbury also put his name in the finals lineup as he secured seventh place overall in the prelims. Fifth year Dylan Reed, Daley Fraser and Chase Marafioto each tabbed big points for Pitt – placing tenth, 19th and 22nd place, respectively.
Pitt continued the final day of competition with the 1650 free. Four Panthers collected points for Pitt as they secured a top-24 place. Tessa Mock finished the event with her time of 16:44.84 to take 18th place overall. Both Alex Craft and Michal Piela secured new best times in the 1650 free. Craft secured 11th place with his time of 15:19.13 while Piela took 19th place (15:36.02) overall. Drew Henry also scored points for Pitt as he finished 24th overall with his time of 15:56.11.
FINALS
In the 200 back finals, Janen took 15th overall - dropping her time from relays to post a 1:55.70. For the men's team, Goraj claimed 16th overall with his time of 1:44.18. Both Yendell and Toldeo dropped their time from prelims in the 100 free, posting a 49.21 and 43.06, respectively. Messina also posted a faster final time tonight – finishing the 200 breast with a 2:15.99. In the men's 200 breast, Chen secured ninth place, Matteazzi took 19th and Zorzano claimed 23rd overall.
Cash had a showstopping night tonight, claiming his second gold medal of the week in the men's platform diving competition. He added his name to the school record book after putting up a total score of 448.95. This score now qualifies him for the Olympic Trials. His performance this week also earned him the most valuable diver award of the meet.
The Panthers weren't ready to end the night just yet. The women's 400 free relay team comprised of Yendell, Jansen, Sydney Gring and Avery Kudlac crushed the school record after clocking in a time of 3:15.92. Goncharov, Toledo, Krzysztof Radziszewski and Goraj took on the men's 400 free relay tonight – finishing in eighth place overall with a time of 2:52.34.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will remain in Greensboro, NC as they compete in the ACC Long Course Time Trials at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Players Mentioned
