University of Virginia star freshman Gretchen Walsh will miss this week’s Tennessee Invitational, her coach Todd DeSorbo confirmed to SwimSwam on Thursday morning. DeSorbo declined to comment on why, citing privacy rules relating to student-athlete health.
- Thursday’s prelims heat sheets are here. You can also see scratches from the remainder of the meet on the live results link here, designated by SCR next to their seed time.
Walsh is a member of the USA Swimming National Team, qualifying by finishing 5th in the 50 free at the 2021 US Olympic Swimming Trials.
So far in her freshman season for the Cavaliers, Walsh has lived up to her considerably hype. She currently leads the nation in the 100 free (48.00) and 100 back (50.89); ranks 2nd in the 50 free (21.88); has the fastest medley relay leadoff split in the country (23.33); and ranks 4th in the 100 fly (52.18).
While most teams use their mid-season invites as a suited and rested meet, capturing NCAA Championship qualifying times along the way, the silver lining for Walsh is that because Virginia swims fast year-round, and because she already has the “A” standard in the 100 backstroke, she’s already guaranteed of her qualification to the NCAA Championships. She’s the only swimmer in the country so far who has hit the 100 backstroke “A” standard.
She swam in the team’s most recent meet, two weeks ago against Texas.
They also have the #1 time in the nation, and Automatic Qualifying Standards, in four out of five relays – they haven’t had a chance at the 800 free relay yet – so her absence shouldn’t impact relay qualifying either.
The Virginia women are the defending NCAA Champions in women’s swimming & diving. That effort last season was led in part by Gretchen’s older sister Alex, who scored 48 points and won the national championship in the 200 IM.
Lil Swimmy, my apologies but I’m not following your comment, please explain. Thanks.
I think he is implying that Walsh isn’t swimming because she had some sort of a breakdown. Read between the lines of what DeSorbo said–if they were sick or injured, the coach would usually just say that. Even if she did, it isn’t much of our business, and I hope she’s on the mend.
I see it more as a “upset” reaction to her not swimming….
I see it all the time social media “crying, puking, pooping my pants” when something happens that they don’t like
is she scared o the big mean nasty girlVOLS?
The girl that went 46.9 in hs? Doubt it
The LadyVols nasty – really – ?????
Braden – the above comment is disrespectful and should be removed.
Damn shame with today’s technology some of these invitationals are not livestreamed. Take advantage of Olympic year bump and broaden your audience.
Yeah they broadcast mizzou and art Adamson but won’t broadcast Stanford or uva which makes no sense
Who is “they?”
Espn
+100. If an age group club can throw up a camera and broadcast it on YouTube, not sure why a university can’t do the same.
Agree!!!!!!! Our local clubs have all been live streaming the past 18 months. Surely Tennessee could do it.
Brownstead is also out of the 50
So far he’s still entered in everything else, though.
Would make no sense for him to drop his best event on day 1. I’m trying to picture a scenario where he drops the 50 and swims everything else, but I just can’t. For those at the meet, let us know if you see him on deck lol
Only sense I can make is that if they’re chasing a relay cut in a day 1 relay and want him all-in on relays.
But, I reached out to ask.
His grandfather is sick and he went home to be with his family. There’s a chance that he’ll return later in the meet.
That seems like a good reason to not swim. Thanks for the info
awww i hope she gets better
Crying and throwing up
What?
So basically it’s covid
Very unlikely. Covid numbers are super low. COVID Tracker | Coronavirus Information (virginia.edu) Just 13 active cases in the entire student body, 1 new case in the last week.
In pics UVA posted, she’s on deck with the team and watching, so it can’t be covid (that was my initial thought as well).