Gretchen Walsh, Luca Urlando, Jake Magahey Missing Respective Invitationals
As the pre-Thanksgiving weekend of college invitationals get underway, three big names will be out of action this weekend. Virginia freshman Gretchen Walsh, a finalist in the 50 free at the U.S. Olympic Trials, will be missing the Tennessee Invitational, while Georgia’s sophomore duo of Luca Urlando and Jake Magahey will miss the Georgia Tech Invite.
The University of Virginia has confirmed Walsh was scratched from the Tennessee meet but could not confirm a reason for her absence due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Walsh is expected to be a significant contributor for the defending national champion Cavaliers this season as she is part of a loaded squad including defending NCAA champions in the 200 IM (Alex Walsh, Gretchen’s older sister) and Kate Douglass (50 free). Walsh is expected to shine in the sprint freestyles this college season, and she has a season-best time of 50.89 in the 100 back, which was the nation’s top time prior to Thursday.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s Urlando and Magahey are missing the Georgia Tech meet. The University of Georgia said that the swimmers “are both currently dealing with a non-COVID-related illness, and out of an abundance of caution, are not competing this weekend at Georgia Tech.” Urlando has been one of the top 200 butterflyers in the country, finishing fourth in a fast 200 fly final at last year’s NCAA Championships before placing a heartbreaking third in the 200-meter fly at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He also qualified for the 200 free final at Olympic Trials before scratching to focus on the 200 fly.
Magahey, meanwhile, won last year’s NCAA title in the 500 free as he out-dueled the American-record holder, Florida’s Kieran Smith. Magahey also finished second in the 1650 free at the NCAA meet behind eventual Olympic gold medalist Bobby Finke.