NEW COMMIT: United States National Teamer Alex Walsh, arguably the most sought-out recruit in the Class of 2020, has verbally committed to the University of Virginia. The Nashville, Tenn. native will join the Cavaliers as a member of the class of 2024.
Walsh does her club swimming with Nashville Aquatic Club under head coach Doug Wharam. She was recently named to the U.S. National Team for her prelims performance in the 200m IM at Phillips 66 National Championships this past summer.
Walsh burst onto the scene in Summer 2017 after placing fourth in the 200m IM at Phillips 66 Nationals en route to being named to the U.S. National Junior Team. She represented Team USA at the FINA World Junior Championships where earned a silver medal as part of the 4×100 free relay and placed fourth in the 200m IM.
Over the past four years, Walsh has accumulated a total of 15 Junior National titles and was named Swimming World’s Up & Comer in October 2015. She also owns a total of eight National Age Groups records in:
- 11-12 200 back
- 11-12 200 breast
- 11-12 100 IM
- 13-14 4x100m medley relay
- 13-14 200 IM
- 15-16 100 breast
- 15-16 200 breast
- 15-16 200 IM
A current junior at Harpeth Hall School, Walsh is a six-time TISCA Tennessee State champion and owns five state records. She also led her team to being named Swimming World’s High School National Team Champions in 2018 after setting National Ind. marks in the 100 breast and 4×50 medley relay.
Her best times include:
- 100 breast – 58.19
- 200 breast – 2:05.87
- 100 back – 50.88
- 200 back – 1:51.42
- 200 IM – 1:53.69
- 400 IM – 4:07.98
- 50 free – 22.08
- 100 free – 48.90
- 200 free – 1:45.05
- 100 fly – 51.31
Walsh was one of the most talented recruits in the class of 2020 as she will join a Virginia team that finished 9th at NCAAs in 2018 and has won 10 of the last 12 ACC team titles. Walsh is also easily the most talented recruit Virginia has had since Leah Smith signed in the fall of 2012.
Right now, Alex Walsh would most likely swim the 200 IM, 100 breast and 200 breast at NCAA and she has the potential to be a three-event scorer as a freshman. Her 200 IM would have placed her seventh at NCAAs in 2018, and fourth in both breaststrokes. She also has A-Final scoring ability in the 200 and 100 back, and has capabilities of swimming on the free relays.
Walsh will represent Team USA at the Pan American Games in the summer of 2019 in the 200 IM and 200 back.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Pipeline forming….
UVA is just killing it in recruiting.