In the early part of the season, we focus a lot on the additions that teams have made during the offseason. There’s been a lot of chatter about it this season given the Indiana and Texas men’s loaded transfer classes. But casting our eyes towards the trophies waiting far ahead at the end of the long NCAA season’s road, it’s also important to keep in mind the foundation of returning swimmers that the top teams have maintained.
Stanford and Michigan’s Strong Foundations
For the Stanford women and Michigan men, that foundation looks especially strong, as they are the only teams that finished in the top 15 at 2024 NCAAs that have retained 100% of their individual points. Stanford finished fourth last season with 250 points and Michigan scored 87.5 points for 14th—up six places from their 2023 finish. 154 of Stanford’s points came from individual events and so did 47.5 of Michigan’s points.
The Alabama women returned all of their individual NCAA points for the 2022-23 season as many of their athletes used their fifth year of eligibility. But neither Stanford nor Michigan had any seniors score at 2024 NCAAs individually, highlighting that these teams relied heavily on their underclassmen to produce—and they did. While Stanford had three juniors score, Michigan only had one.
It’s a notable feat because both schools were in transition last season. Stanford was running with a young roster after losing their Olympian stars. They get one back this season—gold medalist Torri Huske returns. But instead of the narrative that she’s coming back to save the Cardinal, she’s only adding even more momentum off her incredible Olympic campaign to the wave the team is already riding. As for Michigan, it was the first season under head coach Matt Bowe and his staff, which was not an insignificant transition. But the team responded well, sending 10 swimmers to NCAAs, and in particular, their butterfly group was quite strong.
What About The Other Top 15 Teams?
On the women’s side, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, and Michigan return over 90% of their 2024 NCAA points, giving them strong launching pads for this season as well. Virginia, the four-time defending NCAA champions, have returned 232.5 of their 337.7 individual points. It’s not as strong of a percentage as some of the other teams but let’s not pretend that the Cavaliers are lacking for points, they are still far and away the big favorites to claim the 2025 NCAA title.
Part of that is due to just how many points they earned last season relative to other teams—you can afford to have a not-as-strong returning points percentage when your 232.5 returning individual points would’ve finished 6th at 2024 NCAAs based on total points.
The only two top 15 teams that are returning less than half their 2024 individual points are the runners-up Texas and the ninth-place Ohio State.
On the men’s side Florida, Tennessee, and Stanford return over 90% of their individual points. Here, it’s important to keep in mind that the Gators have lost Macguire McDuff, who didn’t score many individual points but was key on their relays. Stanford has also lost both Luke Maurer and Rex Maurer which are important losses, but last season, Luke scored on the relays and Rex was off at NCAAs.
The only team returning less than half their individual NCAA points is the defending champions. It’s no secret that Arizona State suffered losses during the offseason as athletes turned pro, transferred, or used up their eligibility, which makes it a challenge for them to defend their title against teams that are returning so many of their individual points and proven NCAA scorers.
Despite losing J. Nocentini (51 points), E. Nelson (41 points), A Harter (13 points), the University of Virginia women’s swimming program adds C. Curzan, K. Grimes, L. Hayes, A. Moesch. C. Curzan (15, 20, 16) and K. Grimes (20, 17, 20) could make up 105 points lost from the 2023-2024 NCAA Season between the two female swimmers.
This article is confusing and misleading because it sometimes uses total points and sometimes uses individual points. Stanford women scored 250 points total, but how much of that was individual points? UVA does return 232.5 individual points, but that would not place them 6th – they’d be 2nd when you factor in relays. If you didn’t know better, you’d think Stanford returns more points than UVA from reading this article, but you’d be way off.
UVA returns 232.5 individual points and adds Claire Curzan (51 points in 2023), #1 Katie Grimes, #4 Leah Hayes, #5 Anna Moesch, #10 Bailey Hartman, #12 Katie Christopherson
Florida returns 169 individual points and adds Nicole Maier (6 points in 2024)
Texas returns 157 individual points and adds Abby Arens (2 points in 2024, 17 points in 2023), #9 Pipe Enge, #14 Lillie Nesty
Stanford returns 154 individual points and adds Torri Huske (50 points in 2023), #7 Levenia Sim, #10 Emily Thompson, #15 Addison Sauickie, #17 Annika Parkhe
Tennessee returns 117 individual points and adds OT finalist McKenzie Siroky, #6 Jillian Crooks, #18 Emily Brown
Stanford looks like the clear runner up this year –… Read more »
Texas has significant diving points coming in and also Jillian Cox. I think it could go either way for 2nd between Stanford and Texas. I’d bet on Texas.
that’s true, I counted returning diving points but missed the incoming divers and also that Cox redshirted, should be Stanford vs Texas fighting for 2nd and Tennessee vs Florida fighting for 4th then
Nicole Maier isn’t the only thing Florida is adding though. You’re forgetting that they have Julie Brousseau (1:57 200 free, 4:38 400 IM), Anita Bottazzo (30.0/1:07.1 breast), and Mabel Zavaros is back, and she’s been an A finalist at NCAAs. They’ve more than replaced Ivey’s points with those three.
I think the race for second at women’s ncaa will be fun.
Texas, scored the most last year but lose Sullivan, pash, elendt, Jacoby and divers, Pick up arens, cox, nesty.
Florida loses Ivey, maier coming in
Tennessee loses very little, adds crooks and siroky
Stanford loses nothing, adds 50+ individual points with huske, plus probably 20 in relay upgrades +sim, some other good freshmen
Don’t forget Pioer Enge
I think Texas adds a really good diver.
Don’t forget about the UNC Chapel Hill TarHeels. Mark Gangloff has them poised for a top five finish this year.
Huh?
The University of Texas will finish third only if the University of Texas women’s diving program replaces the points lost by B. O’Neil (28 points) and J. Skilken (16 points).
Better Stanford University than the University of Texas. Ditto, the University of Florida.
2024-2025 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving
Virginia
Florida
Stanford
Tennessee
Texas