NCAA Qualifier Luana Alonso of Virginia Tech Enters NCAA Transfer Portal

NCAA qualifier Luana Alonso of Virginia Tech has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Paraguayan Olympian qualified for the 2022 NCAA Championships for Virginia Tech, finishing 30th in the 100 fly individual in a best time of 52.29.

Alonso was one of 9 Hokies swimmers (along with 1 diver) who qualified for the NCAA Championships. That was the most qualifiers in program history.

She finished 12th in the 100 fly at the ACC Championships in 52.53. A week later, she swan at the UNC Last Chance Meet and improved that time to 52.35 – which tied her as the last qualifier into the NCAA Championships in the 100 fly.

Alonso was a bit of an outlier by earning an individual invite to the NCAA Championships, but not having any other “B” cut times to swim additional individual events. In fact, her best 100 yard fly time from her freshman season in Blacksburg was half-a-second better than her best 100 yard free time.

Alonso’s Best Times in Yards:

  • 50 free – 23.35
  • 100 free – 52.77
  • 200 free – 1:55.02
  • 100 fly – 52.29
  • 200 fly – 2:00.39

Alonso also swam the butterfly leg on Virginia Tech’s 8th-place 400 medley relay at the ACC Championships. She did not swim on their 200 medley relay at that meet.

Internationally, Alonso swam the 100 meter fly at last summer’s Olympic Games. There, she placed 28th in the 100 fly in a time of 1:00.37. She also swam at the Junior Pan American Games, where she won gold in the same event in 1:00.14.

Alonso currently holds 6 Paraguayan Records, mostly in butterfly events, but also in the 50 backstroke in long course. She previously represented her country internationally at several events, including the 2019 World Junior Championships.

She was one of two international swimmers who entered the Transfer Portal for Virginia Tech last week. New Zealander Luan Grobbelaar also went in to the portal. His best finish at the ACC Championships came in the 400 IM, where he placed 18th in a time of 3:49.43.

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Steve Kaczmarek
1 year ago

No more loyalty to a school in any sport. It is difficult for me to understand how one can leave their friends and start over elsewhere. Never thought this rule would affect the swimming programs.

I hate swimming
Reply to  Steve Kaczmarek
1 year ago

well one of them was kicked off so…

Matt
1 year ago

Bodacious Glutes tho

Swimswamswum
Reply to  Matt
1 year ago

Bonk!

SwimFan
1 year ago

🍿 🍿 🍿

HokieKNOWS
1 year ago

She is leaving because of “mean girl” female snitches on the team that Luana was faster than.

Swimmer
Reply to  HokieKNOWS
1 year ago

This is not what happened at all. Please get your facts straight before you comment on someone else.

HokieKNOWS
Reply to  Swimmer
1 year ago

Well there is that, but the girl was never welcome from the beginning and to “somebody who actually knows,” you KNOW that is true when she was swimming faster than the other butterfliers and earning her spot on relays from others. One in particular felt threatened from her in the beginning, pouting and using “team rules” to get her in trouble at every chance she got where certain things may have been overlooked in the past that wouldn’t have been a big deal. You’re not fooling anyone. It was obvious to everyone on the team. This past year on the girl’s side was incredibly toxic due to poor leadership. You can’t expect throwing a 17 year old girl in the… Read more »

Emma Atkinson
Reply to  HokieKNOWS
1 year ago

Unless you are on the team, you have no idea what the truth is. Coming from someone who has seen this team grow and prosper over this past year, I KNOW that each and every one of those girls took pride in trying to make the team better in every aspect. Leadership was not the problem, competitiveness was not the problem, the problem was someone lying and breaking rules without any remorse. It’s no secret that she broke rules and lied about it. As a team, we hold everyone accountable for their actions, which includes those who break the rules. She is transferring because she believes that this team is not right for her. That is her decision and it… Read more »

HokieKNOWS
Reply to  Emma Atkinson
1 year ago

There was a HUGE problem with leadership, competitiveness and yes she did break the rules. Never said she didn’t. Yes, that wasn’t part of the reason she left, but it wasn’t the only reason. She was never welcomed or embraced on this team by those who saw her as a threat. If everyone was held accountable for their actions as you stated more people than just Dylan Eichberg would had faced serious consequences other than just slaps on wrists for the same issue. Yes it is her decision, but Virginia Tech made it an easy one. Bottom line, the girls team this past year was nothing but a bunch of tattle tales using rules to advance their own agenda on… Read more »

HokieKNOWS
Reply to  Emma Atkinson
1 year ago

And there is also a reason I stand with a fake name and anyone on the team would understand why so it’s laughable. If you know you know. Get your head out of the sand and really look hard. It’s pretty easy. How many freshmen quit this year?

Bruh
Reply to  HokieKNOWS
1 year ago

This feels kinda personal to share on a public forum but okay

swimapologist
Reply to  Bruh
1 year ago

Right? Damn I’d transfer too lol.

It’s like y’all came here to try to protect the program from whatever negative PR you thought you were protecting the program from. In reality, every was going to shrug and move on until y’all decided to own thyselves in the comments.

It’s actually funny that y’all thought this was somehow what the program needed lol.

Ur lost bro
Reply to  swimapologist
1 year ago

Hard to believe, but not everything on the internet is true buddy. None of what hokieknows said is true. You’re being a sheep.

swimapologist
Reply to  Ur lost bro
1 year ago

Oof. Imagine reading my comment and thinking I was talking about what HokieKNOWS said and not what AJ Pouch or Emma Atkinson said. Or the other VT swimmers who ran here to rip her.

Sometimes I miss the lack of self awareness of an 18-22 year old. Blissful unawareness <3. Don’t change, bro.

Lol
Reply to  swimapologist
1 year ago

Yep. Let people spread slander and spread false info. You’re really standing up for what’s right. Good job. Very aware.

Last edited 1 year ago by Lol
Somebody who actually knows
Reply to  HokieKNOWS
1 year ago

She’s leaving because she got in trouble breaking team rules. She could not handle the repercussions of her own actions. Not because of jealousy.

Haha ur poor
1 year ago

When do we find out she’s going to SMU?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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