If after sweeping the 2008 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships the Cavaliers did not think their season could get any better, both the men's and women's teams were wrong.
Closing out the 2007-08 season with 15th-place and 20th-place finishes, respectively, at the NCAA Championships, the Cavalier men and women proved they are competitive not just regionally, but also on the national stage.
"I am really thrilled for both teams and for the athletes that participated in the meets," Virginia coach Mark Bernardino said. "They swam exceptionally well and competed with mental and physical toughness, and I think that their results were just outstanding."
Ten women and 10 men were invited to compete in the NCAA Championships held at the end of March. Marking the end of a season that began in October, NCAA meets challenge the mental and physical stamina of collegiate swimmers.
"We made very positive steps in the right direction all season long," Bernardino said. "I think that the amount of time, effort, energy and dedication that the members of both teams have put in was clearly evident when it mattered most -- at the conference championships and the NCAA Championships."
Before the women's NCAA Championships, Bernardino said the goal was to take a big step forward from last year's 39th-place finish. Leaving Charlottesville with hopes of finishing among the top 25, the women returned home in 20th place.
Freshman Liz Shaw placed fourth in the 200 Fly. Her time of 1:54.98 garnered her All-American honors and shattered the ACC record she set at the ACC Championships.
Also placing in the 200 Fly was junior Megan Evo, whose time of 1:57.28 put her in 12th place overall and earned her honorable mention All-American accolades.
"Last year coming out of ACCs the women were a little bummed out because we did not swim as well as we would have liked nor placed as high," Evo said. "That definitely lit a fire under us for this season."
Along with the 20th place finish at NCAAs, the Virginia women concluded the 2007-08 season with high hopes for the future. Having fielded a young squad this season, the Cavaliers will look to mark their territory on the national stage in the coming years.
"I think we have started a legacy this year because our freshmen are so outstanding," Evo said. "This year I think a lot of people sat up and took notice of us at NCAAs and wondered where we came from. We have a lot of exciting things to look forward to."
One week after the women returned from NCAAs, the Virginia men rounded out the top 15 at their national meet in Seattle, Wash.
Much like the Cavalier women, the men saw strong performances from their freshman class. The first day of competition, freshman Matt McLean tallied 15 points for Virginia with a fourth-place finish in the 500-free. His time of 4:14.10 is not only a new ACC record but also earned him First-Team All-American honors.
McLean, the 2008 Swimmer of the Championships at the ACC meet, represents the future of both the men's and women's teams. Both teams were considered "young" this season and are poised to build on the momentum of their successes if they can overcome the graduation of this year's senior class.
"What we had this year, which is not easy to replace, was phenomenal senior leadership," Bernardino said. "They were selfless, they put the team in front of their personal goals and desires, and it was through their strong leadership efforts that we succeeded at the highest levels this year. There weren't many of them, but boy were they effective"
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