Hokie ClubGREENSBORO, N.C. - The Virginia Tech women’s swimming & diving team closed out the 2014-15 season at the final day at the NCAA Championships with one all-american and two honorable-mention all-american finishes on Saturday night. The H2Okies finished in 27th in the team standings with 36 points.
“We are proud our lady H2Okies and their strong season,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “Kaylea Arnett is our best ever and we are so appreciative of her career along with Kelli Stockton who conclude her fine career today. Weronika and Klaudia had great swims for us today and they scored valuable points for us in the team race.”
Junior Weronika Paluszek earned her first all-america honors when she finished eighth in the 200 breast with a time of 2:08.95. In the morning prelims, Paluszek swam 2:07.83 to clinch her spot in the A-final, only 0.02 seconds slower than the school-record time, which she set at last year’s ACC Championships. It was Paluszek’s second-straight NCAA top-10 finish.
Rookie Klaudia Nazieblo garnered her first honorable-mention all-america honors when she finished 14th in the 200 fly with a time of 1:55.21. A few weeks ago, Nazieblo set a new school record in this event with a time only 0.05 seconds faster. She has already won two individual ACC medals along with this honorable-mention all-america honor, and she has a very bright future ahead of her.
The most decorated H2Okie in history, senior Kaylea Arnett, closed her career with an honorable-mention all-america finish in the platform after winning the B-final and earning ninth place with a score of 296.25. In Arnett’s storied career she has won three ACC bronze medals, one ACC silver, six ACC golds, six honorable-mention all-america honors, two all-america honors and 1 NCAA bronze medal. She has also been named the ACC most valuable diver an ACC-record four times.
In the morning prelim swims, sophomore Fiona Donnelly finished 43rd in the 200 back with a time of 1:56.00. Junior Mackenzie Stewart finished 46th in the 200 breast with a time of 2:14.65.
In the platform diving competition, freshman Emma Villarreal finished 27th with a score of 237.05. Senior Kelli Stockton closed out her great career with a 25th-place finish after posting a score of 242.10. Stockton career accomplishments include five ACC top-five finishes, including a bronze medal in last year’s 3-meter, and one honorable-mention all-america finish in the platform during her freshman season.
As a team, the H2Okies finished the NCAA Championships in 27th in the team standings with two all-america honors, two honorable-mention all-america honors and 12 top-30 finishes. This is the fifth year in a row they have finished within the top-30.
Tech’s men are back in action on Thursday, March 26, for the men’s NCAA Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
Individual Results:
6th - All-American - Kaylea Arnett - 3-meter (360.60)
8th - All-American - Weronika Paluszek - 200 breast (2:08.95)
9th - Honorable-Mention All-American - Kaylea Arnett - Platform (296.25)
14th - Honorable-Mention All-American - Klaudia Nazieblo - 200 fly (1:55.21)
25th - Kelli Stockton - Platform (242.10)
25th - Fiona Donnelly - 400 IM (4:10.90)
26th - Klaudia Nazieblo - 100 back (52.94)
27th - Emma Villarreal - Platform (237.05)
27th - Fiona Donnelly - 200 IM (1:58.06)
27th - Weronika Paluszek - 100 breast (1:00.52)
30th - Mackenzie Stewart - 100 breast (1:00.63)
30th - Kelli Stockton - 3-meter (301.50)
39th - Kelli Stockton - 1-meter (259.20)
40th - Jessica Hespeler - 500 free (4:45.75)
41st - Ashley Buchter - 3-meter (274.45)
43rd - Fiona Donnelly - 200 back (1:56.00)
44th - Maggie Gruber - 100 fly (53.35)
46th - Mackenzie Stewart - 200 breast (2:14.65)
46th - Jessica Hespeler - 200 free (1:47.53)
47th - Maggie Gruber - 100 back (55.43)
69th - Mackenzie Stewart - 200 IM (2:02.34)
Relay Results:
24th - 200 Medley Relay (1:38.44) - Nazieblo, Stewart, Gruber, Harper
25th - 400 Medley Relay (3:35.61) - Nazieblo, Gruber, Paluszek, Hespeler