Alex Walsh Entered In 500 FR, Gretchen Walsh Entered In 100 FL/BK At Tennessee Invite

2022 TENNESSEE INVITATIONAL

The psych sheets have been posted for the 2022 Tennessee Invitational, and some intriguing lineup choices have been made for three of the most versatile swimmers in the NCAA: Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh, and Kate Douglass. All three swimmers are entered in their maximum of four individual scoring events, and will all be taking on doubles on day two of the meet.

Alex Walsh is entered in the 500 free, 100 fly, 100 breast, and 200 breast. She is notably opting not to swim the 200 IM or 400 IM, which are arguably her best two events. The decision to swim the 500 free is an interesting one, given that she has only swam the event once (according to the USA Swimming Database): when she went 5:16.39 at a meet in 2014 (however, she is listed with an entry time of 4:48.00). However, given her speed in the 200 free and her endurance to swim an elite 400 IM, we could be in for a surprisingly fast time from her in the 500.

The younger Walsh, Gretchen Walsh, will stick with her short-distance events. She is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, and 100 back, with the 100 back and 100 fly falling on the same day. This meet might help her decide which events to pick at NCAAs, as she is the second fastest-performer of all time in the 100 back, but recently swam the fastest unsuited time ever (50.53) in the 100 fly this season. Walsh comes into midseasons as the #1 swimmer in the 50 free (21.16), 100 free (47.11), and 100 fly, and one of the 17 undefeated Division I NCAA swimmers from top 25 programs.

Douglass is entered in her NCAAs lineup of the 50 free, 100 fly, and 200 breast, and is also in the 100 breast. At the UVA-Texas meet, Douglass was well off her season best in the 100 free and was out-touched by Lydia Jacoby and Ella Nelson in the 200 breast, so it will be interesting to see if she can bounce back at invites.

Other notable entries include Jordan Crooks entered in the 100 back in addition to his typical 50 free/100 free/100 fly lineup. He swam the 100 back at last season’s Tennessee Invite as well, going a best time of 47.25. Tim Connery, who is making his mid-season debut for Virginia, is entered in five events (50 free, 200 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 free), meaning he will have to scratch one event if he wants to score in all of his races.

Matt Brownstead is entered in the 50 free, 100 fly, 100 back, and 100 free, opting not to swim the 200 free—an event that he raced over the 100 back at NCAAs last year.

Several of the Tennessee women are missing from this psych sheet, such as Jasmine Rumley, Regan Rathwell, Kristen Stege, Claire Nguyen and Julia Mrozinski. Another swimming not on the psychs is Virginia freshman Claire Tuggle. SwimSwam has been informed that she is out of the meet due for health-related reasons.

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Yikes
2 years ago

Looking forward to Walsh v Douglass in the 2 breast!

VFL
2 years ago

Can we get an update on the Tennessee women MIA? Seriously half our team isn’t racing right now. Walshe and Summer Smith missing in addition to the list you have.

Swimfan27
Reply to  Yanyan Li
2 years ago

Yessss. She is so versatile it’s insane. The most versatile swimmer in the NCAA by far

USA
2 years ago

Predictions:

A Walsh:
500 free: 4:36.2

G Walsh:
100 fly: 49.8
100 back: 49.6

VA Steve
2 years ago

She’ll drop.

Snowpipers of Alaska
Reply to  VA Steve
2 years ago

She could beat a 5:16 doing a 500 IM.

Curious
2 years ago

Is A. Walsh the best female all-around NCAA swimmer ever? 50/100 FR relay times, 200 FR, 100/200 FLY, 100/200 BK, 100/200 BR, 200/400 IM. I’m sure this upcoming 500 FR will be added to the list. All four strokes…20-point relay split and 3:57 400 IM. Crazy range!

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Curious
2 years ago

Coughlin and Tracy Caulkins were pretty good too.

Walter
Reply to  Curious
2 years ago

Tracy Caulkins?

Admin
Reply to  Curious
2 years ago

People are always going to go back to Caulkins. For a certain generation, nobody will ever be able to surpass her, no matter what they do.

But Alex Walsh is getting really close to the point where they’re going to have to at least put them side-by-side.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

I thought I heard that she won LCM Nationals in each stroke. Is that true? That isn’t NCAAs, but if true, I can’t imagine anyone doing that these days.

JimSwim22
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
2 years ago

Tracy C set national records in all 4 strokes

LBSWIM
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
2 years ago

She has held an American record in all four strokes and the IMs.

OldNotDead
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
2 years ago

Her LCM national titles came in every stroke but freestyle; her SCY national titles came in every stroke but fly. 63 American records, 48 national titles between 1977-1984. 12 NCAA individual titles in 3 championships.

Sherry Smit
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

Tbh I really want to see her transfer that SC Success into lc. It would be cool to see her in contention for the worlds/Olympic team in the 200 FR; 200 BK, 200 BR; 200 FL; and 200/400 IM events. I think she’s got a shot for sure

John
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

Side note on this comparison, both came out of the same club team, NAC in Nashville.

WahooWah
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

It’s a fair comparison though! Walsh swam at Tracy Caulkins pool with Nashville Aquatic Club as age grouper as well 🙂

Peter
2 years ago

Just a reminder her senior National Team breakout was a 2:08 LCM 200 back and now she never swims it – absolutely ridiculous

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

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