Seminoles Capture Gold, Two Bronzes and a School Record on Day Three of ACCs
ATLANTA – The No.13/NR Florida State swimming and diving team won an ACC title, two bronze medals and set a school record on day three of the 2026 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The men’s 200 medley relay won gold in the first swimming event of the championship. Two divers, redshirt senior Kayleigh Clark and sophomore Carlos Vargas won bronze on platform to conclude three days of diving competition.
“We had a great day,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “We were excited to win the relay on the men’s side and had some amazing diving out of Kayleigh and Carlos, an amazing comeback from Carlos. We had some incredible splits on the 800 free relay; Ioana Stirbu set a school record leading off, so there’s a lot to be excited about. It was a great first day of swimming and last day of diving, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can do as the meet goes on.”
Tuesday wrapped up diving and kicked off the swimming portion of the seven-day championship meet.
Swimming began with the championship-winning 200 medley relay. The men’s team of seniors Max Wilson and Tommaso Baravelli, sophomore Michel Arkhangelsky and senior Sam Bork took home gold in with a time of 1:22.28. It is FSU’s first ACC Championships win in the event since 2020.
The women’s squad of sophomore Alice Velden, senior Julia Mansson and sophomores Maryn McDade and Mary Leigh Hardman placed eighth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:36.73.
The day opened with platform, where Clark and Vargas both advanced to finals out of prelims. Clark was second overall in prelims with a score of 316.80, while Vargas delivered an amazing comeback, finishing eighth after prelims with 316.35. In the championship final, Clark earned her first career ACC medal, scoring 306.30 points to take bronze. Vargas recorded a personal-best 367.15 on the platform in the final to also earn bronze.
This was the first time since 2017 that Florida State had both a male and female diver medal at the ACC Championships. That 2017 championship also featured a pair of FSU platform medalists.
The Seminoles also competed in the 800 free relay on Tuesday, where freshman Ioana Stirbu set a Florida State record on the opening leg in the 200 freestyle, breaking a mark that had stood since Kaitlyn Dressel set it in 2015. Stirbu, Hardman and seniors Mika Heideyer and Sophie Freeman finished 11th in the relay. The men’s 800 freestyle relay team of juniors Gustav Olsson and Andrew Rich, senior Utku Kurtdere and sophomore Logan Robinson placed sixth, touching the wall at 6:11.74.
The Seminoles will return to the pool Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. ET for prelims in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle, with finals scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
All sessions will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, and live results will be available throughout the week. A complete schedule and more information is available at TheACC.com. Direct links and live updates all week long can be found by following and connecting with the Seminoles on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
Wednesday, February 18
9:30 a.m. – Prelims: 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free
Watch Prelims Day 4
5:30 p.m. – Finals: 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free
Watch Finals Day 4
The men’s 200 medley relay won gold in the first swimming event of the championship. Two divers, redshirt senior Kayleigh Clark and sophomore Carlos Vargas won bronze on platform to conclude three days of diving competition.
“We had a great day,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “We were excited to win the relay on the men’s side and had some amazing diving out of Kayleigh and Carlos, an amazing comeback from Carlos. We had some incredible splits on the 800 free relay; Ioana Stirbu set a school record leading off, so there’s a lot to be excited about. It was a great first day of swimming and last day of diving, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can do as the meet goes on.”
Tuesday wrapped up diving and kicked off the swimming portion of the seven-day championship meet.
Swimming began with the championship-winning 200 medley relay. The men’s team of seniors Max Wilson and Tommaso Baravelli, sophomore Michel Arkhangelsky and senior Sam Bork took home gold in with a time of 1:22.28. It is FSU’s first ACC Championships win in the event since 2020.
The women’s squad of sophomore Alice Velden, senior Julia Mansson and sophomores Maryn McDade and Mary Leigh Hardman placed eighth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:36.73.
The day opened with platform, where Clark and Vargas both advanced to finals out of prelims. Clark was second overall in prelims with a score of 316.80, while Vargas delivered an amazing comeback, finishing eighth after prelims with 316.35. In the championship final, Clark earned her first career ACC medal, scoring 306.30 points to take bronze. Vargas recorded a personal-best 367.15 on the platform in the final to also earn bronze.
This was the first time since 2017 that Florida State had both a male and female diver medal at the ACC Championships. That 2017 championship also featured a pair of FSU platform medalists.
The Seminoles also competed in the 800 free relay on Tuesday, where freshman Ioana Stirbu set a Florida State record on the opening leg in the 200 freestyle, breaking a mark that had stood since Kaitlyn Dressel set it in 2015. Stirbu, Hardman and seniors Mika Heideyer and Sophie Freeman finished 11th in the relay. The men’s 800 freestyle relay team of juniors Gustav Olsson and Andrew Rich, senior Utku Kurtdere and sophomore Logan Robinson placed sixth, touching the wall at 6:11.74.
The Seminoles will return to the pool Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. ET for prelims in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle, with finals scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
All sessions will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, and live results will be available throughout the week. A complete schedule and more information is available at TheACC.com. Direct links and live updates all week long can be found by following and connecting with the Seminoles on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
Wednesday, February 18
9:30 a.m. – Prelims: 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free
Watch Prelims Day 4
5:30 p.m. – Finals: 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free
Watch Finals Day 4
Thursday, February 19
9:30 a.m. – Prelims: 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free
Watch Prelims Day 5
5:30 p.m. – Finals: 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free
Watch Finals Day 5
Friday, February 20
9:30 a.m. – Prelims: 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast
Watch Prelims Day 6
5:30 p.m. – Finals: 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 400 medley relay
Watch Finals Day 6
Saturday, February 21
9:30 a.m. – Prelims: 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast
Watch Prelims Day 7
2:30 p.m. – Finals (Early Heat): 1650 free
Watch Finals (Early Heats) Day 7
5:30 p.m. – Finals: 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 400 free relay
Watch Finals Day 7
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on Twitter/X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@FSUSwimDive) and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
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