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Junior Aspen Gersper has announced her verbal commitment to the Virginia Cavaliers, beginning in the fall of 2024.
Gersper currently attends Saint Andrews School, and is set to graduate in 2024. She also swims year-round with Saint Andrews Aquatics out of Boca Raton, Florida.
“I am SOOO excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Virginia!!! I want to thank my family, the coaches at UVA, SA coaches, and friends for always supporting me and getting me to where I am today!!! I am super super excited to be a part of the family!!! GO HOOS 🧡⚔️⚔️💙”
Gersper was featured in the honorable mention category in SwimSwam’s “Way Too Early Recruit Ranks” for the girls high school class of 2024. She has high versatility in that she can swim anything free, fly, or back up to a 200. With two years left to develop, it will be interesting to see which events she puts her focus on. Gersper is off to a quick start this season, as she has already set a best time by two tenths in the 50 free and is only half a second off her 100 free (50.16).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 free – 23.02
- 100 free – 49.45
- 200 free – 1:48.27
- 100 fly – 53.99
- 200 fly – 2:00.09
- 100 back – 53.94
- 200 back – 1:57.94
With the exception of a 50 free in March (25.95), Gersper did not hit any lifetime bests in her key events this past long course season. She competed at Speedo Summer Juniors, where she finished as high as 31st in the 100 back (1:03.80) and 100 free (57.33). Her 100 free and 100 fly (1:02.89) swims were season bests.
In the spring, Gersper competed at the NCSA Spring Championships, where she placed as high as 6th in the 100 free (49.60). She also took 8th in the 50 fly (24.72) and 11th in the 100 fly (53.99). In November at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 1A State Championship, Gersper claimed first place in the 100 fly (54.02) and 3rd place in the 100 back (54.68). She also contributed to Saint Andrew’s 1st 400 freestyle relay and 4th place 200 medley relay, leading off in a 49.62 and splitting a 24.00 (fly).
Gersper’s current best times would not qualify her for NCAAs, as it took a 22.16/48.44 in the freestyle events and a 52.35/5247 in the 100 fly and 100 back to get under the cutline last season. However, Gersper’s times are projected to score at ACCs, where her 100 free best time would have put her 14th at last year’s meet. She also projects to 23rd in the 100 fly and 22nd in the 200 back.
The Virginia sprint group is one of the best in the country right now with athletes like Kate Douglass, Lexi Cuomo, Maxine Parker, and Gretchen Walsh leading the squad. The Virginia women won all but one relay at last season’s NCAAs, with the exception being the 800 freestyle relay where they took 2nd. All but Walsh will be out of eligibility by the time Gersper arrives in Charlottesville.
Though the class of 2027 is lacking true sprinters, Virginia’s current freshmen are highlighted by sprinter Carly Novelline. She comes in with best times of 22.26/48.16/1:45.14 in the 50/100/200 free, as well as holding times of 51.61 and 1:53.17 in the 100 and 200 back.
Gersper joins what will likely be the nation’s top recruit class of 2028. #9 ranked Bailey Hartman, #12 Katie Christopherson, #3 Anna Moesch, #2 Leah Hayes, and #17 Charlotte Wilson all have announced their commitment to Virginia for the fall of 2024.
Moesch is the class’s top sprinter, holding best times of 21.97/47.76/1:44.10 in the 50/100/200 free, while Hayes has the best 200 IM time nationally in the class at 1:54.09. Hartman swims mid-distance fly and free, holding best times of 1:55.70 in the 200 fly and 4:41.73 in the 500. Christopherson is the lone breaststroker of the group so far, with times of 1:00.81/2:13.02 in the 100/200 breast, while Wilson is the lone backstroker with best times of 25.01/52.70/1:54.58 in the 50/100/200 back.
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Congrats to Ms. Gersper! This UVA ’24 class is ridiculous. St. Andrews is the same HS/Program as UVA-great Megan Moroney.