Virginia Wins 800 Freestyle Relay to Open ACC Championships

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CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Virginia’s 800 freestyle relay team earned a victory and posted a NCAA ‘A’ cut as the 2012 ACC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships opened Wednesday at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center in Christiansburg, Va.

After two events, the Cavaliers sit in third place with 58 points and trail host Virginia Tech (68) and North Carolina (66).

The team of senior Peter Geissinger, junior Tom Barrett, sophomore Parker Camp and senior David Karasek took first-place honors in the 800 freestyle relay and earned a automatic berth into the NCAA Championships with a winning time of 6:18.35. That time is also the second-fastest in the country to date this season behind Michigan’s 6:16.26 which was also turned in Wednesday night at the Big Ten Championships.

“I believe the true measure of a team’s character is shown in how they respond in adversity,” Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. “Our 800 freestyle relay really stepped to the front and demonstrated what this team is all about. It has been a common theme all year long; we have had to bounce back. I hope we can display the toughness and the character that relay showed tonight.”

Virginia’s 200 medley relay was ninth to open the meet after finishing in 1:28.29. Junior Matt Murray, sophomore Taylor Grey, junior Brady Fox and Karasek swam for the Cavaliers. It was a NCAA ‘B’ mark.

“For whatever reason we have not been able to get the 200 medley relay to click,” Bernardino said. “We have just been stuck in sand with that relay this year. But this team has the will and resolve to continue to fight and respond in a positive fashion to whatever roadblocks are in front of us.”

Day two of the ACC Championships continues at 11 a.m. Thursday with preliminaries in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle.

2012 ACC Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships
Feb. 22-25 | Christiansburg, Va.
After 2 Events

1. Virginia Tech
68 2. North Carolina
66 3. VIRGINIA
58 4. Duke
56 4. Florida State
56 4. NC State
56 7. Georgia Tech
52 8. Maryland 48 8. Clemson 48 10. Boston College
28