COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's swimming and diving team finished the season with four victories for the fourth year in a row. At 4-7 overall and 1-6 in the ACC, the Terps placed eighth at the conference championship meet in February.

The Terps won their first two dual meets of the season, easily defeating Johns Hopkins (156.5-73.5) and Howard (197-30) at home. Sophomore Kevin Ford (50 and 100 free) and freshmen Martin Ott (200 IM) and Derek Hock (1M and 3M diving) won the first individual events of their careers, and senior Brad Schertle swept the distance events. Seniors Chris Brandenberger, Mike Fried and Erik Weinberg also added solo victories.

Maryland next faced stiff competition at the ACC quad meet in Atlanta and could not pull out an upset over Florida State, host Georgia Tech or new conference member Virginia Tech. Ott (200 IM) and Weinberg (200 back) each notched individual victories.

However, the Terps returned to their winning ways at the Terrapin Cup Invitational two weeks later, where they finished first in the 10-team field. They received strong individual performances from Fried and Brandenberger, who each won two events. Sophomore Tim Shepard also notched the first victory of his career.

After a two-month break from competition, Maryland returned home to host a two-day quad meet against ACC rival N.C. State and non-conference opponents Pittsburgh and Villanova. The Terps put up a strong showing, defeating the Wildcats (300-51) and narrowly falling to the Wolfpack (178-169) and No. 23 Panthers (199.5-153.5). Weinberg swept the backstroke events, Ott won the 400 IM and freshman newcomer Stefan Geisen claimed the first victory of his career (200 free).

Next the Terps headed to Tobacco Road to take on conference foes Duke and North Carolina. Maryland dominated the Blue Devils (144-96), picking up its first ACC win of the season. Fried led the way, sweeping the sprint events. The Terrapins did not fare as well against the No. 19 Tar Heels the following day, losing 207-93.

In the final dual meet of the regular season, the Terps fell to No. 10 Virginia, the reigning ACC Champions, 158-78. Shepard recorded Maryland's only individual victory of the afternoon.

The Terrapins were confident heading into the four-day ACC Championships meet in Atlanta. Maryland finished eighth with 273 points. Weinberg won the conference title in the 200-yard backstroke, breaking his own school record. He became the first Terp to win a conference crown since diver Kevin Burke in 1999.

Weinberg (200 back) and Ott (200 IM) earned All-ACC honors for their top-three finishes at the meet. Ott broke three school records over the weekend, finishing third in the 200-IM and fourth in both the 400-IM and the 200-butterfly. Weinberg also reset his own 200-back mark.

With his time in the 200-back, Weinberg qualified for the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., becoming the first Terp to do so since Burke in 1999. He placed 24th at the meet.