The DeSorbo Effect is in full swing in Charlottesville, Virginia this week. After claiming the conference title at the 2018 ACC women’s swimming and diving championships, the Cavaliers have earned three big verbal commitments: Ella Nelson, Kate Douglass, and Maddie Donohoe. Now the versatile sprinter Lexi Cuomo of Clifton, Virginia has added her verbal commitment to the pile. Cuomo announced via social media:
“Super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim at UVA!! I’m so thankful for the support of my family, coaches, and friends in getting me here and I can’t wait to be a cavalier?⚔️? #wahoowa”
Cuomo is just wrapping up her junior season at Centreville High School. She was runner-up a week ago in the 50 free (22.99) and 100 fly (53.05) at the 2018 VHSL Class 6 State Meet. She also contributed a blazing 22.43 anchor to the winning 200 free relay, and a 23.04 butterfly led to the third-place 200 medley relay. A year ago, Cuomo was runner-up in the 100 fly and placed 7th in the 100 back, earning a spot on The Washington Post’s inaugural Winter All-Met Girls’ Swimming and Diving Team.
Cuomo does her club swimming with Mason Makos Swim Team. She placed 8th in the women’s 100 fly at Winter Nationals, going a best time in prelims to qualify for the A final. She also competed in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, and 200 fly (C finalist). Last summer, between U.S. Nationals and U.S. Open, she improved her LCM times in the 50/100 free, 50 back, and 50/100/200 fly.
Cuomo is another example of how UVA is succeeding in keeping homegrown Virginia talent in-state. The high school class of 2018 saw Virginians Cassidy Bayer commit to Cal, Emma Muzzy to NC State, and Sinead Eksteen to Notre Dame. Now, two of the top names out of the state -Donohoe and Cuomo- are staying put, and committing early.
Cuomo’s top 100 fly time would have earned points for the Cavs at 2018 ACC Championships in the B final, and she’s not far off in the 50/100 free. UVA will graduate 3/4 of the sprint free relay (Dina Rommel, Laine Reed, and Caitlin Cooper) this year so Cuomo will be looked upon to take the baton.
Top SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.99
- 100 free – 49.71
- 50 fly – 24.49
- 100 fly – 52.89
- 50 back – 25.00
- 100 back – 54.18
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
Great get for UVA and great choice for Ms. Cuomo! This recent string of elite commitments at UVA makes me curious whether schools try to coordinate the roll-out of verbal commitments so that they have one after another announced every couple of days. Or is it truly just up to whenever the athlete wants to make his/her decision public?
I’m a former D1 head swim coach, it is my feeling that the kids can announce their commitments at any time. However at some point colleges will run out of scholarship money. While the kids commit to the college the college also must be reserving scholarship money for them. I kind of look at the commitments as these kids wanting to reserve a spot and money for themselves.
As someone who used to swim for the Mason Makos before moving overseas, they do a great job over there. You should definitely watch out for Lexi.
Big bod Peter Ward works them hard
Congrats Lexi! Our daughter is a 4th year sprinter and she loves the coaches, team and school. Great choice! Lots of success and happiness!!
Congrats Lexi! So excited for you!
The Washington Post has been selecting All-Met swimming and diving teams for many years. SInce at least 1990, anyway: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/sports/high-schools/all-met/history/allmethistory.htm
Whoooaaaa. Top 4 team next year no doubt. Top 2 in 2020.
just to clarify, none of these recruits are going to uva next year.
Double whoa. Seeing what happened this year with existing swimmer’s drops top 4 still seems doable next year. I bet the current roster is every bit excited about these girls coming in as they are, and will bring that energy to every training session.
Congrats Lexi! Huge huge HUGE pickup for UVA.
By the way, it’s worth mentioning that the girl that won the 50 free and 100 fly at the VHSL 6a State Meet was a tiny freshman. Victoria Huske. She won the 50 in a 22.39 and the 100 fly in a 52.64. She’ll be one to watch for the future.
And getting in-state kids is huge because UVA tuition is about 1/3 the cost for those in-state ($16K vs. $46K), so it gives the team to do some scholarship splits. Getting 50% as an instate athlete still makes it quite affordable.