Yanchev Wins Bronze at ACC Championships

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Florida State men’s swimmer Yordan Yanchev brought home the bronze medal in the 500 free on the second night of the 2023 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

In addition to Yanchev, Peter Varjasi finished fourth in the 200 IM and Samantha Vear was also fourth in the women’s 1-meter diving event.

“It was a great evening,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “They really stepped up in the pool and supported each other. It was one of the most fun evenings I have been a part of. I am so proud of them.”

Yanchev was just off his season best in the 500 free in prelims (4:15.02), qualifying fifth at 4:16.79.

Working from lane two, Yanchev began to pace the field around the halfway mark. As the top-seeded swimmers made their move, Yanchev turned for home in the final 50 yards, slightly in third place.

Yanchev surged to the finish for bronze, touching at 4:12.97, lowering his own FSU record he set last season (4:14.16)

The Sandankski, Bulgaria, native became the first medalist in the race since Mateo DeAngulo won gold back in 2012, before the ACC expanded to host Louisville, Notre Dame, and Pitt.

“I couldn’t be happier for Yordan,” Studd added. “He’s such a great kid and he works so hard.”

Yanchev Wins Bronze at ACC Championships

Varjasi swam a time of 1:43.97 in the 200 IM, qualifying for finals in sixth out of the heats.

At night, Varjasi capitalized on his strong back half, claiming fourth place with a time of 1:43.37. The Erlangen, Germany, native, became the first championship finalist in the race since 2018.

Vear never fell out of the top eight during 1-meter prelims, qualifying sixth for finals with a score of 277.60.

In finals, Vear started strong, sitting in fourth place at the halfway point. Vear slipped to sixth following her toughest dive. In the fifth round, Vear bounced back, scoring 7.5’s on her inward 1 ½ somersault pike for 54 points, leaving five divers in a close competition for spots third through seventh.

On her last dive, Vear scored 7.5’s on her front 1 ½ somersault 2 free twist, bringing her total to 296.95 for fourth place.

The 18th-ranked men’s team opened the night with a fifth-place finish in the 200 free relay behind Mason Herbet, Arijus Pavlidi, Jokubas Keblys, and Varjasi at 1:16.82, which was an NCAA provisional time.

David Quirie competed in the bonus heat of the 500 free, touching for 21^st place at 4:20.50.

Max Wilson saw a big drop in prelims in the 200 IM, touching at 1:44.97, which is the fifth-fastest time in FSU history. Swimming in the consolation heat, Wilson tied for 14th, at 1:45.16.

Baravelli survived a potential disqualification in prelims, qualifying for the bonus final of the 200 IM at 1:45.99. He went on to win the heat, placing 17th overall at 1:44.80. His time is now fifth in school history, while Wilson’s prelim swim is now sixth.

Keblys competed in the consolation heat of the 50 free where he placed 16th at 19.90 after posting a 19.72 in prelims. Ian Cooper finished 18th (19.66) and Pavlidi placed 23^rd (19.97) after swimming his best in prelims at 19.77.

The women’s 200 free relay led off the night by taking eighth behind Zsofia Kurdi, Jernstedt, Gloria Muzito, and Maddie McDonald at 1:29.59.

Maddy Huggins, Anna Metzler, and Edith Jernstedt all earned second swims in the 200 IM.

Jernstedt emerged as the winner of the heat, touching with a personal best of 1:57.64, which is the second-fastest time in FSU history.

Metzler in 20th (1:59.29) and Huggins in 21^st (1:59.30). Metzler contributed her best at finals, while Huggins swam her best in prelims at 1:59.09, which is the ninth-fastest time in school history.

Huggins swam her personal best in prelims, touching at 1:59.09, which is the ninth-fastest swim in FSU history.

In addition to Vear, Izzy Gregersen added 18th place point from women’s 1-meter, scoring a tally of 238.90.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Prelims: 9:30 a.m.

Events: 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, men’s 3M (12:15 p.m.)

Watch: https://noles.co/3E5N45s

Finals: 5:30 p.m.

Events: 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, men’s 3M

Watch: https://noles.co/3HVmiOj

Live Scoring/Live Timing: http://sidearmstats.com/acc/swimming/

Divemeets.com & Meet Mobile

Friday, Feb. 17