Cavalier Corner

April 2022

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12 CAVALIER CORNER Sorbo] to be able to train me in a lot of these different events," Douglass said. "At the beginning of the season, I said my goal was to get the American record in the 50 free and 200 breaststroke, and I knew that was going to be difficult because those are two very different races. "I love training for the 50 free and the 200 breast, so being able to do a lot of different practices throughout the year has been great. I never really expected I was going to get three American records at this meet so it has been crazy." "As her training partner, I could see all of this coming," Gretchen Walsh said. "She is a great trainer, and she is capable, and she did it. She is an amazing woman, and it just inspired all of us. I think we were all in awe, but also thinking 'I could see that coming.' "She really helped the momentum of our team." Alex Walsh started her triple by defending her 200-yard individual medley title from 2021. She also won the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard butterfly. Walsh was the top qualifier for the 200 and 400 individual medleys but came from a fifth- place qualification to win the 200 fly. The win was historic for many reasons, but none more than the meteoric rise to na- tional prominence that this team has seen. "I think it is pretty historic and what makes it even more special for us is put- ting our team into context of, four years ago Virginia got ninth," Alex Walsh added. "The trend has been exponential, and I don't think any other team can say they have had the route to success that we have had. It is pretty awesome." With just two fourth-years — Wenger and Jessica Nava — graduating this spring, the Cavaliers will bring back an arsenal of talent next season. There is still more on their list they want to accomplish, and UVA will have its sights set on a third straight NCAA cham- pionship in 2023. "We do have a lot of unfinished business," Gretchen Walsh said. "We accomplished a lot of goals here, but we can always set the bar higher for ourselves. Every single day we are getting better, and it is just a matter of time before we do something else that is history in the making." "For me personally, there is a lot to keep improving on. I think this year was a break- out in a lot of respects," said first-year Reilly Tiltmann, who swam on UVA's 400 free relay. "I doubled yesterday in the 200 free and 100 back, and took on the 200 back today, which was definitely hard. I was really proud of my swims, and I think there is a lot more coming for me." Along with Douglass, the Walsh sisters, Tiltmann, Nelson and Weyant, UVA will return All-Americans Lexi Cuomo, Maddie Donohoe, Abby Harter and Anna Keating. "We won 11 out of 18 swims, I don't know how many teams have done that before, but clearly there is still room for us to get better," Alex Walsh said. "We have a great group of first-years com- ing in next year. It is great we all get to be leaders for them and show them what it takes to be national champions. "Todd has done such a great job recruit- ing girls who want to contribute to this team and want to be part of history. It is just on us to keep inspiring them." Third-year Kate Douglass (left) and second-year Alex Walsh (right) combined for six individual championships to lead the Wahoos. Douglass won the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, while setting American and NCAA records in all three events. Walsh completed her trifecta by winning the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 butterfly. (Photos by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA) The Cavaliers lose only two fourth-years — Alexis Wenger and Jess Nava pictured here — and will be aiming for three-peat in 2023. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA)

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