On an exhilarating Saturday, January 10, 2025, the University of Virginia (UVA) swimming and diving teams showcased their prowess by sweeping Penn State in a dual meet held at the Aquatic & Fitness Center in Charlottesville, VA. The event was a celebration of athletic excellence, particularly poignant as it took place on Senior Day, drawing a record crowd of 1,156 enthusiastic fans—an unprecedented turnout for a home meet at UVA.
The Cavaliers delivered a powerful performance, with the women's team triumphantly defeating Penn State 154-61, while the men's squad also secured victory with a score of 133-85. This meet was not just about individual races but rather an exhibition of dominance, as UVA claimed victory in 19 out of the 20 events contested. The women emerged victorious in all ten of their events, whereas the men clinched nine wins, highlighting the depth and talent within the program.
A standout feature of the day was the impressive performances from both seasoned competitors and rising stars. Most of the male swimmers focused on their specialty events, whereas several female swimmers opted to explore secondary races, showcasing their versatility.
Among the notable performers for the women were junior Claire Curzan and freshman Sophia Umstead, both of whom excelled by winning multiple events. Curzan shone brightly as she captured first place in the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.16 seconds and dominated the 200 freestyle, finishing in 1:43.50—a new season best. These times highlight her current standing in the NCAA rankings; her 100 freestyle time places her ninth, while her 200 freestyle clocks her at 20th. In both races, Curzan demonstrated her superiority, winning the 100 freestyle by an impressive margin of 2.39 seconds and the 200 freestyle by 0.97 seconds over her teammate, sophomore Katie Grimes, who also achieved a personal best with a time of 1:44.47.
Making her debut for the Cavaliers, Nina Jazy finished impressively in second place in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.55, showcasing her potential as she transitions into competitive collegiate swimming.
Sophia Umstead, another remarkable talent, triumphed in both the 200 Individual Medley (IM) and the 200 breaststroke, posting times of 1:56.51 and 2:09.72, respectively. Each of these victories came with significant improvements, as her previous bests were 1:56.98 and 2:10.63.
Additionally, graduate student Bryn Greenwaldt made waves by winning the 50 freestyle in 21.61 seconds, which marks her second fastest time ever, closely following her November performance of 21.58 that currently ranks her 12th in the NCAA. Senior Aimee Canny also achieved a lifetime best in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:54.49, further contributing to the team's exceptional outing.
On the men's side, Maximus Williamson led the way, capturing victories in both the 200 IM (1:42.44) and 100 freestyle (42.28). Though these performances didn’t reach his season bests, they still showcased his competitive edge. Meanwhile, David King also shone in the meet, securing wins in the 200 freestyle (1:34.09) and 200 backstroke (1:41.09).
Freshman Thomas Heilman displayed his talents in the 200 butterfly, winning with a time of 1:41.97, although he fell short of his season best of 1:39.09 which ranks third nationally. Penn State’s only victory of the day came courtesy of senior Mariano Lazzerini, who clocked in at 1:52.52 in the 200 breaststroke, a remarkable feat considering his season best of 1:50.93 ranks him sixth in the nation.
As the meet concluded, the event winners were celebrated:
Women’s Event Winners:
- 400 Medley Relay: Virginia, 3:30.51
- 200 Freestyle: Claire Curzan, 1:43.50
- 50 Freestyle: Bryn Greenwaldt, 21.61
- 200 IM: Sophia Umstead, 1:56.51
- 200 Butterfly: Aimee Canny, 1:54.49
- 100 Freestyle: Claire Curzan, 47.16
- 200 Backstroke: Tess Howley, 1:52.25
- 500 Freestyle: Lily Gormsen, 4:48.57
- 200 Breaststroke: Sophia Umstead, 2:09.72
- 200 Freestyle Relay: Virginia, 1:27.48
Men’s Event Winners:
- 400 Medley Relay: Virginia, 3:04.04
- 200 Freestyle: David King, 1:34.09
- 50 Freestyle: Jack Aikins, 19.64
- 200 IM: Maximus Williamson, 1:42.44
- 200 Butterfly: Thomas Heilman, 1:41.97
- 100 Freestyle: Maximus Williamson, 42.28
- 200 Backstroke: David King, 1:41.33
- 500 Freestyle: Nathan Szobota, 4:22.84
- 200 Breaststroke: Mariano Lazzerini, 1:52.52
- 200 Freestyle Relay: Virginia, 1:18.71
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers are set to compete against Virginia Tech in another dual meet on Saturday, January 17, in Christiansburg, VA. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions will take on Princeton in their upcoming match on Saturday, January 24.
