Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473451
10 CAVALIER CORNER BY ERICH BACHER N CAA championships in women's swimming and diving and men's tennis propelled Virginia to another outstanding athletics season. The Cavaliers posted their second consecutive 11th-place finish in the final 2021-22 Learfield Directors' Cup competi- tion, marking their 15th consecutive top-25 showing. UVA is one of 10 schools to rank in the top 30 of the final Directors' Cup standings every year of the program's 29- year existence. (The Directors' Cup was not awarded in 2020 due to the pandemic.) "It's been a remarkable year, and it is humbling for me to be able to watch the resil- iency, work ethic and grit of our coaches and student-athletes," Virginia director of athletics Carla Williams said. "Our entire staff should take great pride in knowing we cannot accom- plish anything without their commitment and dedicated work. Two more team titles this year bringing the total to 31 NCAA team champi- onships all-time is absolutely phenomenal. "We also celebrated eight individual na- tional championships this year and are so grateful for the opportunity to represent the University and our fans on the national stage." In addition to fielding a pair of NCAA championship teams, UVA saw its men's la- crosse and women's tennis teams advance to the NCAA quarterfinals, while rowing (ninth) and men's swimming and diving (10th) added top-10 finishes. Men's track and field placed 14th at the NCAA Champi- onships, and women's golf placed 15th. Women's soccer and field hockey each advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Eight wrestlers reached the NCAA Championships, tying for second most in program history, and baseball, women's lacrosse, women's track and field, men's golf, and men's and women's cross country made NCAA Tourna- ment appearances. UVA captured four Atlantic Coast Confer- ence championships during the year, and its 90 conference titles since the spring of 2002 are the most of any league school dur- ing that time. In 2021-22, UVA claimed ACC championships in women's swimming and diving (the 18th championship in program history and 13th since 2008), men's tennis (14th championship in program history), men's lacrosse (19th overall) and rowing (12th consecutive and 21 of 22 overall). The Cavaliers also claimed ACC regular-sea- son titles in women's soccer and men's tennis. Individually, Kate Douglass won the Honda Sport Award for swimming and diving and was named College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Women's Swimmer of the Year. Douglass won three in- dividual NCAA championships (50 free, 100 fly, 200 breast) and was part of four NCAA relay championships (200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay). Alex Walsh won three individual NCAA championships (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly) and was part of three NCAA championship relays (200 free relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay). Gretchen Walsh claimed one individual NCAA championship (100 free) and was part of four NCAA champion- ship relays (200 free relay, 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay). Claudio Romero captured the NCAA discus title. Beth Lillie became the first Cavalier to post two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Wom- en's Golf Championships. Iñaki Montes-De La Torre was named ACC Men's Tennis Player of the Year, while Emma Navarro was named ACC Women's Tennis Player of the Year. Todd DeSorbo (women's swimming), Andres Pedroso (men's tennis), Kevin Sauer (rowing) and Lars Tiffany (men's lacrosse) earned ACC Coach of the Year honors. DeSorbo also was named College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Women's Coach of the Year, while Pedroso was tabbed as the ITA Na- tional Coach of the Year. ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF VIRGINIA'S 2021-22 ATHLETICS YEAR ■ Tony Elliott took over as Virginia's Fralin Family Head Football Coach in December Crowning Achievements NCAA Championships In Women's Swimming And Diving, Men's Tennis Cap Another Successful Athletics Season The UVA men's tennis program won its last 23 matches en route to capturing its fifth national title in the last nine years. (Photo courtesy UVA)