Florida State University Athletics
Seven Noles Headed to Men’s NCAA Championships
3/13/2024 4:38:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
TALLAHASSEE – The 18th-ranked Florida State swimming and diving teams will be represented by seven student-athletes individually at the 2024 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships that will run from March 27-30 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
FSU will compete in all five relays along with Peter Varjasi, Max Wilson, Mason Herbet, Yordan Yanchev and all three divers, David Vargas, Darwin Nolasco and Jesco Helling.
"I am so excited for these seven individual qualifiers," FSU head coach Neal Studd said. "We have a full complement of relays going as well and we're looking forward to a great meet."
Heading into the final day of the Zone B Championships on Wednesday, Vargas punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships after placing seventh on 3-meter on Tuesday. Having to finish in the top 12, while his teammates needed to be in the top 10 to qualify, Vargas finished prelims in 11th (322.10).
Nolasco led the Noles out of prelims with a score of 356.46 for fifth place ahead of Helling in 12th (321.70).
With scores carrying over to finals, Helling hit all six dives including his back 3 ½ somersault tuck that scored marks of 7.5. He jumped up to finish fifth after adding 385.35 in finals, securing the bid.
Nolasco stayed near the top of the leaderboard, scoring above 6.0 on five of his six dives for a tally of 698.85 for seventh place. He added 342.40 in his final round.
Vargas got back on track after a miss in round one, climbing to 12th place after adding 340.25 in finals for a total of 662.35.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group," FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. "This was a week I'll never forget and they made it that way."
For the first time in school history the Noles will have three divers at nationals. Seven individual qualifiers are the most since 2021 when the Noles sent nine.
Jesco Helling
Platform Diving
Helling secures his first NCAA bid and will compete only on platform. At the ACC Championships, Helling scored on all three boards, producing his highest finish on 3-meter (318.10) for 10th place.
Mason Herbet
200 IM – 1:43.05, 30th | 100 back – 45.62, 32nd | 100 fly – 46.06, 46th
Herbet qualifies for his third NCAA Championships after turning in his best time in the 200 IM (1:43.05) at the ACC Championships to place fifth. His time ranks second in FSU history, behind the program record (1:41.92).
Herbet also led off the 200 medley relay that placed fourth at ACC's and contributed to the 200 free relay that took fifth.
Herbet can also swim the 100 back and 100 fly.
Darwin Nolasco
1-meter diving | platform diving
In addition to platform, Nolasco can also dive 1-meter after placing 11th at 625.85 at the Zone B Championships. This will be his first NCAA's.
David Vargas
3-meter diving | platform diving
Heading to his first NCAA Championships, David Vargas also competed in the platform final at the ACC Championships where he placed fourth with a score of 383.00.
Peter Varjasi
100 breast – 51.07, 5th | 50 free – 19.34, 37th | 100 free – 43.30. 37th
Varjasi earned a bid to his fourth NCAA Championships after setting the FSU record in the 100 breast at 51.07 at the ACC Championships, winning the bronze medal. Varjasi dropped three seconds off his previous best time (54.01) this season.
During his career, Varjasi competed in five different individual championship heats at the ACC Championships (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast), becoming the third Seminole in history to accomplish the feat and first since 2014 when the ACC expanded to include Louisville, Notre Dame, and Pitt.
In addition to the 100 breast and relays, Varjasi is expected to compete in the 50 free and 100 free.
Max Wilson
100 back – 45.24, 23rd | 200 back – 1:41.93, 36th | 200 IM – 1:44.17, 46th
Wilson earned an invitation to his first NCAA's after setting the program record in the 100 back at 45.24 at the James E. Martin Last Chance Invitational. Wilson finished sixth in the 100 back at the ACC Championships (45.58) and helped the Noles place fifth in the 400 free relay and sixth in the 400 medley relay.
Wilson can also compete in the 200 back and 200 IM.
Yordan Yanchev
500 free – 4:13.35, 15th | 200 free – 1:33.77, 37th | 1650 free – 15:10.08, 37th
Yanchev will swim in his fourth NCAA meet after posting a time of 4:13.35 at the Georgia Fall Invitational. Prior to ACC's, Yanchev represented Bulgaria at the World Aquatics Championships in the 200m free and on relays.
In addition to the 500 free, Yanchev can also compete in the 200 and 1650 free.
Four additional swimmers will compete only on relays. The Seminoles will be seeded 18th in the 200 medley relay (1:23.43), 20th in the 800 free relay (6:17.96), 11th in the 200 free relay (1:15.81), 18th in the 400 medley relay (3:05.15) and 16th in the 400 free relay (2:49.95).
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@fsuswimdive) and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
FSU will compete in all five relays along with Peter Varjasi, Max Wilson, Mason Herbet, Yordan Yanchev and all three divers, David Vargas, Darwin Nolasco and Jesco Helling.
"I am so excited for these seven individual qualifiers," FSU head coach Neal Studd said. "We have a full complement of relays going as well and we're looking forward to a great meet."
Heading into the final day of the Zone B Championships on Wednesday, Vargas punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships after placing seventh on 3-meter on Tuesday. Having to finish in the top 12, while his teammates needed to be in the top 10 to qualify, Vargas finished prelims in 11th (322.10).
Nolasco led the Noles out of prelims with a score of 356.46 for fifth place ahead of Helling in 12th (321.70).
With scores carrying over to finals, Helling hit all six dives including his back 3 ½ somersault tuck that scored marks of 7.5. He jumped up to finish fifth after adding 385.35 in finals, securing the bid.
Nolasco stayed near the top of the leaderboard, scoring above 6.0 on five of his six dives for a tally of 698.85 for seventh place. He added 342.40 in his final round.
Vargas got back on track after a miss in round one, climbing to 12th place after adding 340.25 in finals for a total of 662.35.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group," FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. "This was a week I'll never forget and they made it that way."
For the first time in school history the Noles will have three divers at nationals. Seven individual qualifiers are the most since 2021 when the Noles sent nine.
Jesco Helling
Platform Diving
Helling secures his first NCAA bid and will compete only on platform. At the ACC Championships, Helling scored on all three boards, producing his highest finish on 3-meter (318.10) for 10th place.
Mason Herbet
200 IM – 1:43.05, 30th | 100 back – 45.62, 32nd | 100 fly – 46.06, 46th
Herbet qualifies for his third NCAA Championships after turning in his best time in the 200 IM (1:43.05) at the ACC Championships to place fifth. His time ranks second in FSU history, behind the program record (1:41.92).
Herbet also led off the 200 medley relay that placed fourth at ACC's and contributed to the 200 free relay that took fifth.
Herbet can also swim the 100 back and 100 fly.
Darwin Nolasco
1-meter diving | platform diving
In addition to platform, Nolasco can also dive 1-meter after placing 11th at 625.85 at the Zone B Championships. This will be his first NCAA's.
David Vargas
3-meter diving | platform diving
Heading to his first NCAA Championships, David Vargas also competed in the platform final at the ACC Championships where he placed fourth with a score of 383.00.
Peter Varjasi
100 breast – 51.07, 5th | 50 free – 19.34, 37th | 100 free – 43.30. 37th
Varjasi earned a bid to his fourth NCAA Championships after setting the FSU record in the 100 breast at 51.07 at the ACC Championships, winning the bronze medal. Varjasi dropped three seconds off his previous best time (54.01) this season.
During his career, Varjasi competed in five different individual championship heats at the ACC Championships (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast), becoming the third Seminole in history to accomplish the feat and first since 2014 when the ACC expanded to include Louisville, Notre Dame, and Pitt.
In addition to the 100 breast and relays, Varjasi is expected to compete in the 50 free and 100 free.
Max Wilson
100 back – 45.24, 23rd | 200 back – 1:41.93, 36th | 200 IM – 1:44.17, 46th
Wilson earned an invitation to his first NCAA's after setting the program record in the 100 back at 45.24 at the James E. Martin Last Chance Invitational. Wilson finished sixth in the 100 back at the ACC Championships (45.58) and helped the Noles place fifth in the 400 free relay and sixth in the 400 medley relay.
Wilson can also compete in the 200 back and 200 IM.
Yordan Yanchev
500 free – 4:13.35, 15th | 200 free – 1:33.77, 37th | 1650 free – 15:10.08, 37th
Yanchev will swim in his fourth NCAA meet after posting a time of 4:13.35 at the Georgia Fall Invitational. Prior to ACC's, Yanchev represented Bulgaria at the World Aquatics Championships in the 200m free and on relays.
In addition to the 500 free, Yanchev can also compete in the 200 and 1650 free.
Four additional swimmers will compete only on relays. The Seminoles will be seeded 18th in the 200 medley relay (1:23.43), 20th in the 800 free relay (6:17.96), 11th in the 200 free relay (1:15.81), 18th in the 400 medley relay (3:05.15) and 16th in the 400 free relay (2:49.95).
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@fsuswimdive) and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
Players Mentioned
Diving
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Back/IM
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Diving
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Diving
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Free
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Back/IM/Free
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Free
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