Virginia swimming fans may have noticed that the Cavaliers only fielded 35 out of the 50 swimmers listed on their 2025-2026 roster in their first meet of the season. Were these absences due to a freak accident in the new Olympic weight room? A team-wide stomach bug, perhaps?
Luckily for Virginia, the answer to the short meet roster is far less ominous and far more flattering. Ten current Cavaliers and four recent alumni were named to the 2025-26 U.S. National Team, therefore listed as guests of honor at this year's Golden Goggle Awards held in Denver. World Championship team member Anna Moesch was on the list as well, the sophomore turned World silver medalist who earned her spot on Team USA’s 4×100 free relay after a breakout summer.
With a lighter travel squad for Saturday’s exhibition at Navy’s Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md., the Cavaliers staged a scrimmage-style meet with a couple of twists. The meet schedule included a series of unconventional events — 150 yards of the four strokes, along with the regular events of the four 50s of the strokes and a 500-yard freestyle.
In terms of what events they swam, swimmers picked one event, Coach Todd DeSorbo assigned a second and a generative-AI tool selected a third — the latter revealed to athletes only 10 minutes before the event’s slated start time.
The old adage “diamonds are formed under pressure" rang true in Annapolis. Results showed the women bundling four key sprint newcomers onto one 200 freestyle relay — freshman Sara Curtis, junior Melissa Nwakalor, freshman Sylvia Roy and graduate Bryn Greenwaldt — stopping the clock at 1:27.62 in technical suits.
Curtis led off in 21.97, Nwakalor split 21.96, Roy came in at 22.56 and Greenwaldt anchored in a blazing 21.13. For a program that graduated two key legs from last year’s NCAA title-winning quartet, this relay result is a huge early win for the fresh-faced program. With junior Claire Curzan and Moesch as returners on that relay, plus Curtis and Greenwaldt now in the mix, Virginia again looks like the team to beat in the 200 free relay come championship season.
Beyond the relay, the exhibition doubled as an opportunity for the freshmen to put on a show after exactly one month of official collegiate training under their belt. Lily Gormsen opened the meet’s individual events with her first collegiate win, taking the 500 free in 4:48.71. Madi Mintenko, the No. 4 ranked recruit on the women’s side, doubled in the 150 free at 1:17.16 and the 200 IM at 2:00.30. She is projected to become a mid-distance staple for the Cavaliers. Curtis, the Italian Olympian, tacked on wins in the 50 fly at 24.17 and the 150 back at 1:24.57, showcasing her sprint versatility across freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and, most importantly, her quick adaptation to swimming in a yards format.
On the men’s side, the No. 1 ranked freshman class did not disappoint. Maximus Williamson delivered a triple crown with a 4:23.41 in the 500 free, a 1:16.33 in the 150 fly and a 1:15.94 in the 150 back. Thomas Mercer, however, stole the win in the 150 back, adding to what is already an extremely strong backstroke contingent, headlined by senior Jack Aikins and sophomore David King. Freshman Grant Murphy also impressed, claiming the men’s 200 IM in 1:48.49 with a gutsy and confident finish.
Many of the returners, on both the men’s and women’s teams, were also sharp off of the blocks. Highlights included senior Olympian Aimee Canny posting a 27.68 for a win in the 50 breast, quickly dominating again with a controlled 150 fly at 1:24.36. Sophomore Spencer Nicholas swept both the 50 back at 21.85 and the 150 free at 1:10.43.
Greenwaldt, fresh from Division II stardom, won the 50 back in her NCAA Division I debut in a 24.19. Along with her standout anchor leg in the newcomer relay, her potential as a keystone in Virginia’s relays was the primary takeaway from Annapolis.
While the meet at Navy showcased the Cavaliers top-to-bottom depth, across the country, Virginia’s established stars were being honored at USA Swimming’s biggest night of the year.
At the Denver Art Museum, four Cavaliers swapped their regular goggles for golden ones. DeSorbo repeated as back-to-back Coach of the Year, recognition of a summer that sent a deep Virginia contingent to Worlds. Class of 2023 alumna Kate Douglass and Class of 2025 alumna Gretchen Walsh — who were also finalists for Female Athlete of the Year — won the Relay Performance of the Year award as finals swimmers on the U.S. women’s 4×100 medley that broke the world record at the recent World Championships. Curzan was also awarded for contributing as a prelims swimmer for the historic relay.
Together, the scrimmage in Annapolis and the ceremony in Denver underscored both the depth and reach of Virginia swimming’s dynasty. Up next is Virginia’s Orange and Blue intrasquad meet, scheduled for Friday at the Aquatic & Fitness Center. It is the program’s first meet of the fall where the entire roster will post times, serving as a litmus test for the Cavaliers before travelling to Florida Oct. 10.
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