2026 Cavalier Invite
- February 5th-7th, 2026
- Aquatic and Fitness Center, Charlottesville, VAS
- Invite Format
- Results on Meet Mobile as “2026 Cavalier Invite”
- Day 1 Prelims Results
- Day 1 Finals Heat Sheets
We’ve gotten used to seeing some pretty big swims at the annual Cavalier Invite, which typically serves as a combination season-ending meet for swimmers who won’t be competing on their respective teams’ championships rosters and a first-chance meet for those who are.
Without the likes of Kate Douglass or Gretchen Walsh racing to throw down some record-breaking times, this edition of the meet probably won’t include any massive fireworks, but that doesn’t mean the meet will be totally bereft of swift swimming.
Case in point — this morning’s 50 free preliminary heats saw three UVA women hit lifetime bests in the 50 free with sub-22 second swims.
Bryn Greenwaldt led the way with a 21.51, shaving 0.07s off of her previous best. Melissa Nwakalor placed 2nd with a time of 21.79, improving her best by 0.06s, while Nina Jazy dropped a third of a second to finish third overall with a time of 21.80.
Greenwaldt, who transferred from the Division II Augustana in the offseason, arrived in Charlottesville with a lifetime best of 21.92 from last year’s Division II NCAA Championships. She went 21.60 (individually) and 21.58 (relay leadoff) at the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge back in the fall, and now has improved her once again, just two weeks out from the ACC Championships.
Melissa Nwakalor‘s arc is very similar to Greenwaldt’s. She swam for the University of Richmond the last two years, and actually hit a lifetime best in the 50 free at this same meet last year (21.98), before tying it at the Atlantic 10 Championships. She improved to 21.85 back in November before clocking a new best today.
Like Greenwaldt and Nwakalor, Jazy is new to the program, having arrived at midseason after having previously committed to the University of Michigan. Jazy has international experience, having represented Germany on both junior and senior teams, and she seems to be adapting well to racing in yards, having dipped below 22.0 for the first time this morning.
Even without Gretchen Walsh, the fastest woman ever in the event, the Cavaliers have an abundance of sprint depth, with five women ranked in the top 20 nationally this season. Sara Curtis has the #2 time this season with a 21.18. Anna Moesch ranks 6th (21.44), Claire Curzan ranks 7th (21.48), Greenwaldt’s time from this morning moves her into a tie for 9th, and Nwakalor is tied for 17th, and Jazy 20th.
Other top seeds from this morning’s session:
- UVA’s Lily Gormsen went 4:50.45 in the 500 free, about three seconds shy of her seed time.
- Only three men competed in the 500 free, led by UVA’s Tristen Davin at 4:30.73.
- UVA’s Emma Redman led the 200 IM prelims with a time of 2:00. Her lifetime best of 1:57.25 came from this meet last year.
- Noah Dyer of the Cavaliers posted a 1:47.63 to lead the men’s side of the 200 IM.
- Cavalier freshman Noah Powers was the only man under 20.0 in the 50 free this morning, posting a 19.86.
21.58 (Greenwaldt), 21.74 (Jazy), and 21.94 (Nwakalor) in finals. Lawson went 22.37.
https://x.com/uvaswimdive/status/2019560716173471984?s=46&t=PzMfboQ4ofEF6ToybLUcpg
UVA women 50 free depth vs ASU men 50 free depth
Its within reach to get 4 splits sub 21. Leadoff may be a problem but 21.18 is close
I like Curtis’s chances to leadoff sub-21 if they go that route. Does Lawson Ficken even make the ACC squad?
I believe there is no limit on number of swimmers each team can bring to ACC championships?
limit for NCAA is 18 unless that has changed.
There are limits to roster sizes at conference meets.
We haven’t checked to see if the new format/schedule changed any of them, but last season it was 21 athletes, with swimmers and divers each counting as 1. Max of 18 swimmers.
Link here
UVA leaves swimmers home from ACCs every year. It’s definitely capped
Unlikely Lawson makes the team. After counting the sure things. Question is do you take umstead or load on sprinters? Based on this they’ll only take 1 jazzy or Melissa for last spot.
With Jazy’s improvement, Virginia likely will have at least 20 swimmers with times fast enough to be invited to NCAAs regardless of what happens in the remainder of the month. Even without divers, some swimmers will need to be left home.
They could just lend some of the women’s team members to the men’s team for some depth
Rough estimate is double digit scorers too, with maybe 14 if people hit there top times at ncaas. Those last few spots are gonna be close for sure.
Honestly looking at the roster even beyond that there are a few reaches for scoring as well
The Cavaliers need five women ranked in the top 20 nationally for the 100 FR by the time the 2026 Cavalier Invitational concludes. Ditto, the 200 FR.
lol. Do you follow the Cavalier Incite year to year?