UVA Swimming and Diving Holds Annual Awards Banquet
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving program held its annual Awards Banquet on Sunday on Grounds. Divers Lizzy Kaye and Oliver Mills and swimmers Noah Nichols and Gretchen Walsh were named outstanding performers for their respective teams.
Kaye became the first women’s All-American diver in program history. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three events and finished eighth in the 3-meter and 10th in the 1-meter events. Mills, who was injured at the ACC Championships and unable to compete in the post-season, had UVA’s top performances in the 3-meter and platform events during the season and ended his career on the top-10 all-time performance list for all three events.
Nichols was fourth in the 100 breast at the NCAA Championships, turning in the best finish by a Cavalier in the event since 2000. He set the UVA 200 breast record at the NCAAs with a sixth-place finish and was a member of the school-record setting 400 medley relay team at the NCAAs. He repeated as the ACC Champion in the 100 breast this year.
Walsh picked up national swimmer of the year honors from the Collegiate Swimming & Diving Coaches Association and was the ACC swimmer of the year and MVP at the ACC Championships. She won seven gold medals at the NCAA and ACC Championships and set four American records during the season. She was also named the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s swimming.
Nichols and Walsh were also recognized for the top individual performances of the year. Nichols for his swim in the 100 breast at the NCAA Championships and Walsh for winning the 100 fly at the NCAAs breaking her own NCAA, American and US Open records by .83 seconds.
Other award winners:
Ramirez Family Award for Leadership (Male): Tanner Hering
McCarty “Heart of the Team” Award for Leadership (Female): Abby Harter
Most Improved Returning Male Athlete: Matthew Heilman
Most Improved Returning Female Athlete: Alex Walsh
Most Improved First-Year Male Athlete: Jay Gerloff
Most Improved First-Year Female Athlete: Tess Howley
Most Outstanding First-Year Male Athlete: Will Thompson
Most Outstanding First-Year Female Athlete: Cavan Gormsen
Men’s Performance of the Year: Noah Nichols – NCAA Championships 4th Place 100 Breastroke
Women’s Performance of the Year: Gretchen Walsh – NCAA Championships 47.42 100 Butterfly win