Top Swimmers Make Strategic Choices for ACC Championships

Claire Weinstein and Katie Grimes take different paths in the 1650 free event

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:40am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a swimming race, with overlapping planes of color and movement, capturing the strategic decisions and competitive energy of the event.The strategic choices of top swimmers at the ACC Championships will shape the outcomes of the highly anticipated competition.Atlanta Today

As the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Swimming and Diving Championships approach, several top swimmers have made strategic decisions about their event lineups. Freshman sensation Claire Weinstein of Cal has opted to swim the 100 free instead of defending her top seed in the 1650 free, while her former teammate Katie Grimes of the Sandpipers of Nevada has chosen to focus on the mile. Other swimmers like Ella Cosgrove and Claire Curzan have also made calculated choices to maximize their performance across multiple events.

Why it matters

These strategic decisions by the swimmers will have a significant impact on the outcomes of the ACC Championships. By choosing to focus on certain events over others, the athletes are positioning themselves and their teams for the best possible results. The choices made by Weinstein, Grimes, and others will be closely watched as the competition unfolds.

The details

Freshman Claire Weinstein, the top seed in the 1650 free, has decided to swim the 100 free instead, likely to focus on the 400 free relay. Her former teammate Katie Grimes, now representing the Sandpipers of Nevada, has taken the opposite approach and will compete in the 1650 free as the new favorite. Another Cal freshman, Ella Cosgrove, has dropped the mile to focus on the 200 back, where she's seeded 32nd but expected to improve. Virginia's Claire Curzan has chosen the 200 back over the 100 free after winning the 100 back, while Cal's Mia West has dropped the 100 free to concentrate on the 400 free relay.

  • The ACC Championships will take place from February 15-21, 2026.
  • The diving events will be held from February 15-17, while the swimming competitions will run from February 17-21.

The players

Claire Weinstein

A freshman swimmer representing Cal, who was the top seed in the 1650 free but has decided to swim the 100 free instead.

Katie Grimes

A swimmer representing the Sandpipers of Nevada, who was Weinstein's former teammate and has chosen to focus on the 1650 free as the new favorite.

Ella Cosgrove

A Cal freshman who has dropped the 1650 free, where she was seeded 6th, to focus on the 200 back, an event where she's seeded 32nd but expected to improve.

Claire Curzan

A swimmer representing Virginia, who has chosen the 200 back over the 100 free after winning the 100 back and becoming the #2 performer in history.

Mia West

A Cal swimmer who has dropped the 100 free, where she was seeded 6th, to concentrate on the 400 free relay.

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What’s next

The ACC Championships will take place from February 15-21, 2026, with the diving events from February 15-17 and the swimming competitions from February 17-21. Fans and analysts will be closely watching to see how the strategic choices made by the swimmers, including Weinstein, Grimes, Cosgrove, Curzan, and West, play out in the final results.

The takeaway

The strategic decisions made by top swimmers at the 2026 ACC Championships showcase the depth of talent and the calculated approach these athletes take to maximize their performance across multiple events. By focusing on certain races over others, the swimmers are positioning themselves and their teams for the best possible outcomes, making the upcoming competition even more exciting to follow.