Virginia Cavaliers Pick Up NJ Backstroker Caroline Gmelich

The University of Virginia has added backstroker Caroline Gmelich to their class of 2021.

“I chose The University if Virginia because the moment I stepped on campus, I fell in love. The team and the coaches elicited such an accepting and exciting atmosphere which made me feel at home. I am confident that UVA is the best place for me to improve upon not only my academic and athletic abilities but myself as a person as well. I can’t wait to be a Wahoo!”

Gmelich hails from Rumson, NJ, and trains for the Central Jersey Aquatic Club. She’s a 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100m back, sneaking under the cut by several hundredths about a month after the actual Trials themselves.

Top Times (SCY/LCM)

  • 50 back – 26.50/30.11
  • 100 back – 55.25/1:03.31
  • 200 back – 2:00.96/2:18.79
  • 100 fly – 56.41/1:03.01

She’s within a second of scoring in the 100 back at the ACC level, and a little bit further off in the 200 back. Primarily a backstroker, Gmelich shows some promise in sprint butterfly, as well.

Gmelich will get a year of overlap with Jen Marrkand and two years with Megan Moroney, two of the best 200 backstrokers in the country. UVA did just graduate Courtney Bartholomew, one of the fastest SCY backstrokers in history, so they’ll welcome more backstroke talent with open arms.

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That guy
7 years ago

Y would anyone want to go to Virginia when you can go to grambling state???

Laugh Guy
Reply to  That guy
7 years ago

Hahahaha I loled

Karen Nichols
7 years ago

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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