No. 1 Virginia and No. 2 Texas have been the top programs in women’s swimming and diving for the past few years. In the 2024 NCAA Championships, the Cavaliers took home the national title with 527.5 points while the Longhorns came in second with 441. In the 2023 NCAA Championships, the same placement occurred — Virginia took the top spot with Texas right behind. It happened again in 2022. It would have happened in 2021 too, but the Longhorns finished third. Still, these teams are seemingly always facing off in must-watch meets.
In the regular season, Virginia and Texas had met three years in a row. The Cavalier women entered the Lee and Joe Jamil Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas this weekend with a 2-1 record against Texas and left the Lone Star State with another crucial win Saturday by a total score of 199-153. In the Eddie Reese Showdown hosted by the Longhorns, Virginia also took down No. 8 NC State 234.5-117.5 and No. 17 Arizona State 250-102, dominating across the board.
As consistent as the sun rising and falling, senior Gretchen Walsh posted a stellar performance. She recorded a time of 47.48 seconds in the 100-yard fly — the third-fastest mark ever recorded, only behind Walsh’s time in the 2024 Tennessee Invite and the 2024 National Championships.
Walsh owns the top seven fastest times in 100-yard fly history. She also claimed first place in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.
Graduate student Alex Walsh had her moment as well — winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.98 seconds. That mark is the fastest ever recorded in a women’s dual meet, and the first in fewer than 57 seconds.
As per usual, the relay team of the Walsh sisters, sophomore Claire Curzan and freshman Anna Moesch were lightyears ahead of any competition. They set an American record in the 400-yard Medley Relay with a time of 3:21.48 — nearly seven seconds faster than the Longhorns. The superstar Cavalier relay unit also finished a full three seconds ahead of Texas in the 200-yard Medley Relay final to claim first place, and finished first in the 200-yard Freestyle Relay plus the 400-yard Freestyle Relay.
Curzan had a weekend to remember in terms of individual success as well. She won the 100-yard Backstroke and 200-yard Backstroke. The rest of Virginia’s swimmers helped rack up points as well en route to a signature victory.
The Cavaliers ultimately won 14 out of the 17 events, placing first in every race except for the 200-yard butterfly, 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-yard freestyle.
In perfect form heading into February, the Cavaliers will hit the pool Feb. 6-8 for the Cavalier Invite at the Aquatic & Fitness Center back home in Charlottesville. On the horizon, the ACC Championships begin Feb. 18 — a date that Virginia’s stars are certainly eying as another chance to collect some hardware.
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