Three Cavaliers Earn CSC Academic All-America Honors

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three members of the Virginia women’s swimming & diving program were named to the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-America team on Tuesday (April 23). Alex and Gretchen Walsh were first-team selections while Maxine Parker was a second-team honoree. Gretchen Walsh earned the recognition for the second consecutive year. She was a second-team pick in 2023.

A senior, Alex Walsh has a 3.54 grade point average as a computer science major. Gretchen Walsh is a junior who has a 3.84 GPA as a commerce major. Parker is a senior with a 3.63 GPA as an applied statistics major.

Alex Walsh is a finalist for this year’s Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving. She helped UVA to its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship while winning three individual NCAA titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 breaststroke. She also swam on three NCAA Championship relay teams – 200 free relay, 400 medley relay and 400 free relay. Overall, she is a 19-time NCAA Champion and a 27-time Collegiate Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America All-American.

Gretchen Walsh is also a finalist for this year’s Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving. She was named the national female swimmer of the year by the CSCAA 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.

Parker was a five-time All-American at the NCAA Championships. She swam legs on four national championship relay teams (200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay and 400 free relay). The 400 medley relay team set NCAA and US Open records (3:21.01) at NCAA Championships. She was seventh in the 50 free at the NCAAs. Parker helped UVA to ACC titles in each of those four relay events.