Gianino shines in ACC championship

It was now or never.

Before the year began, North Carolina senior Alex Gianino set a goal to beat the longest-standing UNC record — the 12-year-old 200-yard breast stroke. Now, in his last ever ACC Championship meet, he had a chance.

He responded with the performance of a lifetime.

Gianino not only broke the 200 breast record, but the 200-yard IM record as well. He also found himself on the winner’s podium for the first time in his career, placing second in the 400-yard individual medley to complete a superb week of swimming.

“He was inspirational,” sophomore Ben Colley said. “He’s been inspirational the whole year with how he’s been swimming as a senior.”

UNC failed to win its first ACC Championship since 1998, placing third behind Virginia Tech and N.C. State. With newcomers Pittsburgh and Notre Dame competing for the first time this year, the competition was fierce.

“This was by far the most exciting men’s ACC’s championships that I can recall,” said coach Rich DeSelm.

UNC, Virginia, Florida State and Notre Dame fought hard for third place, eventually finishing in that order. Only 87.5 points separating UNC from Notre Dame, and at one point after the second day of competition only half a point separated UNC from Virginia.

Freshman Josh Beals also made it to the winner’s podium, placing second in the 500-yard freestyle. Freshman Jack Nyquist placed third in the one-meter diving event, and Colley set an ACC record in the 200-yard fly only to have it surpassed by NCSU’s Christian McCurdy later that evening.

“It was tough,” Colley said. “You break the record in the morning, you’re amped up, you’re excited, and he swam great at night, had a lifetime swim. It was a little disappointing, but at the same time you can’t be too disappointed with a lifetime best, team record, ACC record.”

In total, Tar Heel swimmers surpassed six school records . By finishing third, UNC also continued its streak of finishing no lower than third place during 60 of 61 ACC Championship meets, the lone exception being 2005 when UNC finished fourth.

While the Tar Heels failed to meet their season-long goal of first place at ACCs, DeSelm remains proud of his team and the effort his athletes gave.

“It could have gone any way,” Deselm said. “We did enough to get the job done.”

“Our guys continued to stay focused and continued to have a goal, no matter what that goal was.”