Virginia and Texas Standouts Form Core of 2025 American International Teams
Just three months ago, the University of Virginia women and University of Texas men lit up Federal Way, Wash., with resounding victories at the NCAA Championships.
For Virginia, the fifth consecutive title marked the end of an era as sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh concluded their collegiate eligibility, and the win was dominant, by 127 points over second-place Stanford with the outcome never really in doubt. The Texas win was the exact opposite, in the first season under coach Bob Bowman and by just 19 points over familiar rival Cal.
The attention of American and global swimming has since shifted to long course competition, but the story is largely similar as Cavalier and Longhorn swimmers are poised for central roles on U.S. international teams this summer. Several were already established performers in the 50-meter pool before beginning their college careers while others have used their NCAA success as a springboard.
Of the 21 pool swimmers on the U.S. women’s roster bound for the Singapore World Championships, six hail from Virginia: the Walsh sisters, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan, Katie Grimes and Anna Moesch. Curzan’s first college season representing Virginia brought massive improvements that have put her back on the world scene, this time as the world’s second-fastest swimmer in the 200 backstroke, while Moesch made the jump from junior-level standout to the senior stage in one year with Virginia. She dropped her 100 freestyle best time by a half-second at U.S. Nationals to finish sixth and earn a relay spot.
In addition, Virginia will have Worlds representation on the men’s side for the first time since Todd DeSorbo took over the program in 2017. Jack Aikins qualified for the team by winning the 200 back and placing second in the 100 back while incoming freshman Thomas Heilman will swim at a major meet for the third-consecutive year after his runnerup finish in the 100 fly.
The Virginia influence goes beyond the Worlds team. The roster announced for the World University Games includes six women and one man representing the Cavaliers: breaststrokers Katie Christopherson and Emma Weber, freestyler Cavan Gormsen, IMer Leah Hayes, butterflyer Tess Howley, sprinter Maxine Parker and backstroker David King. Virginia coaches will be on each staff, with Courtney Caldwell heading to Worlds and Jake Shrum going to Germany for WUGs.
Texas freestyler Luke Hobson — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Texas, meanwhile, put six men on the Worlds team. Luke Hobson, Rex Maurer, Chris Guiliano and David Johnston were all part of the national-title-winning roster in March while Carson Foster and Shaine Casas are part of Bowman’s professional group, as are Regan Smith and Simone Manuel on the women’s side. Breakout breaststroker Campbell McKean is heading to Texas in the fall. Foster, Casas, Smith and Maurer will all swim at least three individual events at Worlds while Hobson has become a gold-medal favorite in the 200 free.
Also making the team from Texas were a pair of swimmers from the women’s team, Erin Gemmell and Jillian Cox, the latter of whom does the majority of her training under men’s associate head coach Erik Posegay. Further, eight Texas-trained swimmers are set to swim at the World University Games. The men’s list includes Alec Enyeart, Nate Germonprez, Will Modglin, Baylor Nelson and Camden Taylor. Piper Enge, Kate Hurst and Lindsay Looney go for the women. Posegay is on the Worlds coaching staff with Trevor Maida representing the Longhorns at WUGs.
It’s no surprise that big-name college programs are serving as the hubs for producing the swimmers who will win medals for the United States internationally. A handful of other high-achieving programs also have significant international representation this summer.
Cal
- Worlds: Jack Alexy, Gabriel Jett, Destin Lasco, Keaton Jones, Dare Rose, Claire Weinstein (incoming)
- WUGs: Abigail Herscu, Teagan O’Dell (incoming), Ryan Erisman (incoming)
Florida
- Worlds: Emma Weyant, Bobby Finke
- WUGs: Isabel Ivey, Michaela Mattes, Mason Laur, Jake Mitchell
Indiana
- Worlds: Lilly King, Anna Peplowski, Josh Matheny
- WUGs: Matt King, Owen McDonald, Josh Bey (incoming)
NC State
- Worlds: Katharine Berkoff, Quintin McCarty
- WUGs: Kennedy Noble, Leah Shackley, Daniel Diehl
Stanford
- Worlds: Caroline Bricker, Torri Huske, Henry McFadden
These programs are best known for their medal-winning, record-breaking stars, but they each have track records of helping good high school swimmers take the next steps.
Correction- didn’t Maxine Parker make the team, not Anna moesch?
Moesch was sixth in the 100 free at Nationals, 0.02 ahead of Parker. Parker did qualify for WUGs.
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