Get ready for an exciting and unique ACC Men's 500 Freestyle 'A' Final! This year's event promises to be a fresh and thrilling spectacle, with a remarkable twist that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Seven talented freshmen will take center stage, while none of the previous champions from 2025 will be returning. It's a new era, and these young athletes are ready to make their mark!
The 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships are set to ignite the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, GA, from February 15th to February 21st. With diving kicking off the action and swimming taking center stage from February 17th, it's a week-long celebration of aquatic excellence.
But here's where it gets controversial... The men's 500 Freestyle final will showcase an intriguing mix of ages and experiences. While seven of the eight qualifiers are eager freshmen, eager to prove their mettle, the eighth competitor, Eduardo Olivera de Moraes of Cal, is a transfer student making his ACC debut at the ripe age of 24.
Ryan Erisman, the top seed and a Cal freshman, is on a roll after clocking a personal best this morning in 4:11.17. He'll be joined by three of his Cal teammates in the championship final, including the seasoned Eduardo Olivera de Moraes.
And this is the part most people miss... The ages of these athletes tell a fascinating story. Nathan Wiffen, also of Cal, is an outlier, having committed to the university at the age of 23, making this his first year of eligibility. He's joined by two other older competitors, Patrick Branon of Notre Dame and Oscar Isberg of Louisville, who are 20 and 21, respectively. Branon's appearance is particularly notable, as the Notre Dame men's swimming program was suspended for the 2024-2025 season.
Isberg, a Danish native, is also in his first NCAA season with the Cardinals and will celebrate his 22nd birthday on May 13th.
So, who are the returners from last year's championship final? Stanford's Henry McFadden, who placed third in 2025, just missed out on the championship final this year, finishing ninth. NC State senior Lance Norris, who placed sixth in 2025, also fell short of the top 8 this time around, touching 11th.
As we gear up for tonight's final, the question remains: Will the freshmen dominate, or will the more experienced swimmers pull off an upset?
Don't miss this thrilling showdown!
Top 8 Finalists:
1. Ryan Erisman (California) - 19, Freshman
2. Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes (California) - 24, 5Y
3. Max Carlsen (NC State) - 18, Freshman
4. Nathan Wiffen (California) - 24, Freshman
5. Ethan Ekk (Stanford) - 18, Freshman
6. Patrick Branon (ND) - 20, Freshman
7. Norvin Clontz (California) - 19, Freshman
8. Oscar Isberg (Louisville) - 21, Freshman
Live Coverage:
- Live Results: https://sidearmstats.com/acc/swimming/
- Live Video: ESPN+ ($)
- Schedule of Events: https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-ACC-SwimDiveChampionship_Schedule.pdf (PDF)
- Championship Central: https://theacc.com/feature/swimdive-championship
- Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet: https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-acc-championship-psych-sheet33.pdf
- Live Recaps:
- Prelims: Day 4 - https://swimswam.com/2026-acc-championships-day-4-prelims-live-recap/
- Finals: Day 1 - https://swimswam.com/maimis-pellacani-wins-2nd-3-meter-title-smus-luke-sitz-claims-1-meter-crown-to-open-acc-scoring/
- Day 2 - https://swimswam.com/acc-diving-day-2-recap-miami-women-go-1-2-on-1-meter-gts-fowler-dazzles-on-mens-3-meter/
- Day 3 - https://swimswam.com/2026-acc-championships-day-3-finals-live-recap/
Teams in Action:
- Boston College
- Cal
- Duke
- Florida State
- Georgia Tech
- Louisville
- Miami (women swimming & diving/men diving)
- NC State
- North Carolina
- Notre Dame
- Pittsburgh
- SMU
- Stanford
- Virginia
- Virginia Tech
Will the freshmen reign supreme, or will the veterans steal the show? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments! We can't wait to hear your insights and see who emerges victorious in this epic battle.
