COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Maryland men's swimming is set to travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. this week for post-season action at the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships hosted by the University of North Carolina. ACCs will begin this Wednesday, February 21st and will run through Saturday, February 24th. The Terrapins closed out the regular season on February 3rd in Charlottesville with a loss against the University of Virginia. Maryland enters the conference championships with a 2-9 season record, 0-6 record in the ACC and 10th-place standing in the conference.

The ACC diving events were held last week during the women's conference competition. In 1-meter diving, junior Derek Hock (Aliquippa, Pa.) finished in 23rd with 226.70 points followed by freshman Patrick Meck (Rockville, Md.) in 24th with 218.30 points. Meck went on to place 24th in 3-meter diving while Hock followed in 25th with 226.50 points.

Going into ACCs, senior Danny Gray (Carlisle, Pa.) leads the Terps with an eighth-place ranking in the conference for the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.60. Sophomore Dong Kim (Bucks Co., Pa.) holds a 10th-place standing in the conference for the 50 free after his leadoff split of 20.74 in the 200 free relay against Virginia.

Senior captains Tim Shepard (Catonsville, Md.) and Tony Miller (Severna Park, Md.) have also stood out for the men's team this season. "The two have done fantastic in the pool, but they stand out most because of how they have grown into their leadership roles and directed the men this season." explained Maryland head coach Dave Durden. Shepard swam the team's fastest time in the 200 individual medley this season (1:56.80) at the Terrapin Cup and Miller holds the team's best season time for the 400 IM (4:10.74), also established at this year's Terrapin Cup.

"Our team goal is always to advance up the ACC ladder and that is what we look to do this year," said Durden, "It is going to take a lot of work and a lot of things are going to have to fall our way for that to happen; there are a number of great teams in the ACC. I think our men's team is excited about where they are as a team. They are sensing that they can be strong when they can work as one unit."

The men's ACC Championships will begin this Wednesday, February 21st with finals for the 800 free relay and 200 medley relay starting at 7:00 p.m.

Competition will continue on Thursday, February 22nd with prelims in the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free beginning at 11:00 a.m. Finals for these events in addition to the 200 free relay will start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Friday's events (February 23rd) will include prelims for the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke at 11:00 a.m. Finals for these events plus the 400 medley relay will start at 7:00 p.m. on the third day of competition.

The ACC Championships will wrap up on Saturday, February 24th with prelims in the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast and 200 fly at 11:00 a.m. The 1650 free will take place at 4:00 p.m. and finals for these events in addition to the 400 free relay will start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Follow this week's competition with live scoring linked to this release and the Maryland men's swimming and diving schedule. Coverage for the meet will be provided by ACC Select.

Regular Season Team Standings:
1. Virginia (6-0 ACC; 8-2 overall), 2. Florida State (1-0 ACC; 5-2 overall), 3. North Carolina (4-1 ACC; 5-3 overall), 4. Virginia Tech (3-2 ACC; 10-2 overall), 5. Clemson (4-3 ACC; 9-3 overall), 6. NC State (2-3 ACC; 3-5 overall), 7. Georgia Tech (1-3 ACC; 3-5 overall), 8. Duke (1-4 ACC, 3-5 overall), 9. Miami (0-1 ACC; 1-1 overall), 10. Maryland (0-6 ACC; 2-9 overall), 11. Boston College (0-0 ACC; 8-5 overall)