2025 EDDIE REESE SHOWDOWN
- January 24-25, 2025
- Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center — Austin, Texas
- 25 Yards (SCY)
- Meet Info
- Live Results, also available on MeetMobile as “Eddie Reese Texas Showdown”
- Friday Morning Live Recap
- Friday Night Livestream
- Friday Night Live Recap
After taking a gap year (and then a gap semester), 2x Olympian Katie Grimes is finally competing in the NCAA with the 4x defending national champion Virginia women. Grimes is loving the college racing scene so far, emphasizing how much fun it is not only to be supported by the team but to cheer on her teammates in return.
I wonder what this means for Tyler’s future at UVA? He’s handled the distance swimmers in the past without a lot of success. With Gary there now does that start the end for his time at UVA?
When you’re as fart as she is coming into college it’s really hard to keep dropping time. UVA isn’t really known for distance swimming so I’m very interested to see if she can drop more time in her primary events.
Paige Madden says hello (circa 2021).
Paige Madden was primarily middle distance who swam up to the mile. She was coach by Blaire Anderson, who’s now at Texas A&M. No other distance standouts .
Her main coach is Taylor. One of his previous pupils, Anton Ipsen, won an NCAA title in the 1650.
“UVA isn’t really known for distance swimming”
Leah Smith and Paige Madden would like a word.
Leah Smith swam there well before the current staff was there.
Paige Madden did swim well under this staff, but there aren’t a ton others. Plus I don’t think anyone would disagree that they aren’t known for the distance swimming.
The combination of being really fast prior to coming to college and a staff that isn’t known for distance swimming makes me interested to see how she does during her time at UVA. That’s all.
i was thinking the same thing! but it seems like todd brought in gary for this express purpose. despite there being a lot of strong feelings abt him gary has had success with more aerobically inclined athletes (namely heilman) — and cavan & tess also look a little sharper this year vs last… but we shall see!
im more curious tbh in how shes handles whats effectively a quadruple taper w accs / ncaas / trials / worlds given how she famously “saved her taper” for paris…
I do wonder if part of her reason for joining UVA was to work towards dropping open water and the mile, and focusing more on the 500 free and 400 IM. Plus she could have a great 200 fly LC – the second spot is pretty up for grabs.
She’s always been popular at the national team camps, joking around on Instagram posts complete with nicknames, etc.
Not surprising it applied immediately to Virginia, especially since it’s several of the same girls.
Great interview – she seems so happy and comfortable already. Has she given any indication of how many years of college swimming she wants to do?
In the modern era where they’re allowed to be paid hardly seems a reason not to do 4.
I think you meant 5. Joking not joking.
Very articulate. Glad the culture and work seem to suit her.
They cut to her and Gretchen and a few uva girls on the stream for maybe 30 seconds Friday night and she looked like she was having a really good time, big genuine smile and laughing with her teammates, was nice to see. (Not that she looked unhappy with the sandpipers)
Yes, I was at the Virginia Tech dual meet and she seemed to fit right in. She also was chatting behind the blocks with a Virginia Tech swimmer. Katie seems very humble and doesn’t have much of an ego. You wouldn’t know she was an Olympian by her general attitude (in a good way). She’s just one of the team.
She is happy. That’s what it is all about. She’s among friends, she is loved & at a great social/academic institution in a beautiful setting. Charlottesville is a special place.
I still don’t think I’ve processed Katie grimes being on UVA. She’s gotta be one of best recruits they’ve ever had based on success prior to joining the team
I would say the best. As incredible as Gretchen and Alex were, they didn’t have multiple events with NCAA winning times for PBs before seeing foot on campus.
there’s no competition, afaik the only other swimmer who’s been an Olympian before coming to UVA is Curzan and she came in as a transfer (and “only” a 1x Olympian so far). I’d confidently say that Grimes is the best US female junior swimmer since like… Ledecky?
Not at the collegiate level she’s not, brings limited relay value.
She was 49.60/1:42.90 at a meet during what is effectively her freshman season where she was four seconds off her best in the 500, so I’d say she probably has some relay value incoming. Those times are not bad at a non-taper meet.
That’s 800 relay value only at that level. I didn’t say no value, just limited value for any top 5 team. A 49.6 or even 48.6 is of pretty much no value at the top teams.
“Based on success prior to joining the team”
You are tripping if you think Gretchen in high school was as successful as Grimes was in high school
Gretchen was a very good high school swimmer. As were Alex and Kate. Among the best high school swimmers, in fact.
But none were even in the neighborhood of Olympic medals in high school.
The answer, for you young whippersnappers, prior to Katie, is Wendy Weinberg, 1976 bronze medalist before setting foot on Grounds. Sadly, she transferred to UNC after two years to rejoin her club coach, Frank Comfort.
Best of luck for the remainder of the 2024-2025 NCAA Season.