Zuniga Named Most Outstanding Diver, Pirates Finish Third At American Conference Championship

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Zuniga Named Most Outstanding Diver, Pirates Finish Third At American Conference Championship

February 23, 2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving

Final Results (PDF)

Greensboro, N.C. – The East Carolina women's swimming and diving team concluded competition at the American Conference Swimming and Diving Championship with a third-place finish while setting multiple program records and two conference records as a team.

The Pirates finished with 1,009.5 points while Liberty ended up with 1,250 points for second place and Rice finished with 1,404.5 points to win the championship.

"The conference poll had us picked to finish seventh. Before the season, the team made it their goal to finish in the top three this year," head coach Matthew Jabs said. "We ended each day in third, but it wasn't easy. We would slip as low as sixth or seventh during some sessions but always battled back to end the evening back in third. Extremely proud of our team, everyone on this conference roster played a role in reaching this year's goal. Going into the last day I wasn't sure we would have enough to make it happen, the points were tight all week, especially the final night but like they had all week, our girls fought throughout the final session in every event for every point we could get so we could be in position to turn it over to our 400 Freestyle Relay team (Carlie Clements, Elena Dinehart, Mikayla Durkin, Heidi Bruining) who took it upon themselves to leave no doubt, going from seeded last, cutting ten seconds off our entry time to finish second, break our school record by two seconds, and secure third place in the team standings. It's the first time since 2018 with a top three finish and a huge step forward for our program."

Frida Zuniga was named the American Conference's Most Outstanding Diver after becoming first diver to win all three individual events at an American Conference Championship including recording a championship-record 319.75 points in the platform diving finals while diving coach Ryan McIntire was named the American Conference Diving Coach of the Year.

"Individually, Frida added to her legacy as the greatest diver, male or female to ever do it for the Purple and Gold," Jabs said. "The American Conference has never had a female diver win all three events at the championship meet. Frida not only dominated all three events, but she also led our team in points, reset both of her conference and ECU records (3-Meter and Platform), and won American Conference Most Outstanding Diver."

Carlie Clements led the Pirates on the swimming side with four podium finishes and set six ECU records. Clements' three individual records included the 50 Freestyle (22.61), 100 Backstroke (53.12) and 100 Freestyle (49.67). Durkin, Bruining, Dinehart and Peyton Scott also set top 10 ECU records in the swimming pool.

"Lastly, the coaches, support staff, and administration that work with our program are amazing," Jabs said. "Coach Platts, Coach Watson, and the 2026 American Diving Coach of the Year Ryan McIntire are who make it all happen. Ryan has rebuilt the diving program from scratch and probably doesn't get enough recognition. What he has done not only this year, but for the past five has been incredible."