TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State swimmer and diver Kayleigh Clark continues to redefine success for the Seminoles’ program, earning her fourth ACC Women’s Diver of the Week honor on . The recognition comes on the heels of a strong performance at the University of Florida in Gainesville on .
This latest accolade is historic, making Clark the first woman in Florida State swimming and diving history to receive the ACC Women’s Diver of the Week award four times in a single season. Her consistent excellence has been a driving force for the Seminoles, accounting for four of the team’s seven ACC weekly honors during the campaign.
“I’m so excited for Kayleigh,” said FSU head coach Neal Studd. “She just continues to excel at such a high standard week after week. She and head diving coach Wes Mattice are really putting something special together.”
Clark’s path to this achievement has been marked by steady improvement and consistent results. She first earned the ACC recognition on , following her performance at the Dual Meet Tournament in Atlanta. Subsequent awards followed on , alongside teammate Michel Arkhangelsky, after a strong showing against then-No. 17 South Carolina. Her third honor came on , after standout performances at the Georgia Invitational. Sophomore Maryn McDade and Arkhangelsky were also recognized by the ACC earlier in the season, on .
At the recent meet in Gainesville, Clark demonstrated her prowess by placing second in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events. Crucially, she achieved personal bests in both, solidifying her position as a top competitor. Her scores of 309.38 on the one-meter and 352.78 on the three-meter not only secured her podium finishes but also met the qualifying standards for the NCAA Zone Championships, underscoring her consistency and dedication.
The timing of Clark’s success is particularly significant as the Seminoles prepare for the ACC Championships, scheduled to take place in Atlanta, Georgia, from , at the McAuley Aquatics Center. Her form suggests she will be a key contributor for Florida State as they compete against the top diving programs in the conference.
Clark’s accomplishments extend beyond the collegiate level. According to her USA Diving profile, the 23-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, achieved a third-place finish in the Women’s 10m Synchro at the 2025 FISU World University Games and a fourth-place finish in the Women’s 10m at the 2025 American Cup. She is currently a student at Florida State University.
The Seminoles’ success isn’t limited to Clark and Arkhangelsky. The program has seen strong performances across the board, as evidenced by the team’s recent dual meet split against South Carolina on , where the women’s team secured a decisive victory (199-91) while the men’s team faced a tough challenge (121-179). This demonstrates the depth of talent within the Florida State swimming and diving program.
Elsewhere in the ACC, Louisville’s Anastasia Gorbenko was named the ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Week alongside Clark’s diving honor, highlighting the competitive landscape within the conference. The ACC is clearly a hotbed for swimming and diving talent, and the upcoming championships promise to be a thrilling showcase of athleticism and skill.
The broader collegiate swimming and diving scene is also undergoing changes. Stanford University recently appointed Chris Lindauer as the eighth Paul A. Violich Director of Women’s Swimming, signaling a new era for the Cardinal program. Stanford’s regular season finale against California on , was a highly anticipated matchup between two top-five teams, further illustrating the intensity of competition at the collegiate level.
As Kayleigh Clark prepares for the ACC Championships, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a testament to the dedication and hard work required to achieve success at the highest level. Her consistent performance and historic achievements have firmly established her as a standout diver in the Florida State program and a rising star in the ACC.
