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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS I LIVE STATS I CHAMPIONSHIP INFO

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The No. 24 Virginia Tech men’s swimming team will compete in the swimming portion of the 2016 Men’s ACC Swimming and Diving Championships Feb. 24-27 with the finals being televised live on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m. Feb. 26-28.

The men’s divers competed last week and the team standings after the diving portion have the Hokies in first place with 247 points. As a whole, the men’s team finished in third place last year at the ACC Championships.

"The divers did an outstanding job last week and the swimmers are charged up and ready to race. We are excited about our opportunities in Greensboro. Lucas Bureau, Michal Szuba and Drake Becksted are seniors that have had great careers and we know they will lead us throughout the week. It will be a fast meet this week and our men are prepared," head coach Ned Skinner said.

In men’s diving portion last week, the Hokies had three divers make it to the platform finals. Mauro Castro-Silva, who finished with his third finals appearance of the ACC Championships, led Tech with a bronze medal in the men’s platform in a week where he finished in the top six in all three diving events. Eduardo Castro-Silva also made his second finals appearance in the platform as part of his first ACC Championships and finished sixth in the platform finals. Logan Stevens took home fifth place in the platform with a score of 362.05.

As a group, the men’s divers put up 247 points overall and are 98 points ahead of second place Georgia Tech as the men’s team will begin the swimming portion on Wednesday.

Last year, Szuba won a bronze as part of the 800 free relay last year and also posted a fourth place finish in the 500 free and a sixth place finish in the 1650 free. He has placed in the top five in the 500 free every year he’s competed and won two individual bronze medals, one in the 1650 free and one in the 500 free, at the 2013 ACC Championships. He currently has the sixth fastest seed time in the 1,650 free.

Robert Owen is back after a sophomore campaign where he won gold in the 400 IM at the ACC Championships last year as well as an Honorable Mention All-American in the 400 IM and 200 back. Owen also currently has the eighth fastest seed time in the 400 IM and seventh fastest in both the 100 and 200 back.

Brandon Fiala won gold in the 200 IM at the ACC Championships last year, had three individual top five finishes and was a part of four top six relay finishes. He currently has the fifth fastest seed time in the 200 breast at 1:57.49. He also has the ninth fastest in the 200 IM at 1:47.00 and is eighth fastest in the 100 breast at 54.34. He was also named the ACC Male Swimmer of the Week on Jan. 19 after his performances against Virginia and Towson.

Becksted was a member of the 200 medley relay with Fiala that finished fifth last season at the ACC Championships and earn 50 team points. The team will also bring numerous other swimmers that have top 15 seed times and a chance to earn team points.

The ACC Championships serve as the point in the Commonwealth Clash, presented by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of Virginia Tech Athletics. Whichever school records a higher team finish will add a point for their school to the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash. The score for the Clash is now, University of Virginia 5 and Virginia Tech 3.5. Learn more about Virginia529 and this new competition at www.thecommonwealthclash.com

The meet beings with the 200 medley relay at 4 p.m. Wednesday and will also include the 800 free relay as the events for the day,

For updates on Virginia Tech swimming & diving, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_SwimDive