Feb. 21, 2005

ATLANTA, GA. - After finishing third in each of the past three seasons, the 20th-ranked North Carolina men's swimming and diving team will be seeking an improved finish as the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships begin Wednesday evening at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The Tar Heels posted a 10-2 dual-meet record this season, their best mark since 1999, and they will be going after their best league finish since a runnerup placing in 2001.

Virginia, winner of six straight conference titles, will again be favored as the Cavaliers head into the meet with a No. 10 national ranking. The Cavaliers feature swimmers who have the top regular-season time in six of 13 individual events. Florida State, which has finished second the past two years, has the top regular-season time in four of five relays and ACC newcomer Virginia Tech has the top seeded time in the 200-yard medley relay.

UNC senior Reid Owen recorded the best time this season in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:18.28) and freshman Ben Herboth had the best dual-meet score in three-meter diving (362.25 points). Junior Josh Glasco is the No. 2 seed in the 200-yard butterfly with a school record 1:44.60 and senior Eddy Matkovic has the No. 2 time in the 100-yard butterfly this season at 48.03. UNC has three swimmers in the Top 10 of the 100 fly, 100 back and 200 fly on the ACC depth chart going into the meet.

The Championships begin with the 800-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay on Wednesday night. Individual events begin Thursday. Prelims and finals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.