The 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship kicked off from Federal Way, Washington, with two relays on Day 1.
The meet started with 26 teams competing in the 200-yard medley relay in a timed final.
Virginia came into the race with the top seed, led by three Olympians aiming for a fifth straight championship in the event and got there in 1:31.10, which broke the NCAA, American and U.S. Open records that Virginia had set in 2023 (1:31.51).
“This is probably the best team UVA has ever seen,” Gretchen Walsh said. “I know we are going to have more historic swims like that in the next few days.”
Claire Curzan opened the race with the lead and split a 23.17.
“This is my first one of the five and it is exciting. I have had a break from NCAAs for a year and it is good to be back,” Curzan said. “It made me appreciate the journey. I am really grateful for where I am right now, and it just makes it sweeter to share this win with these girls and break an American record. I am excited to see where the energy takes us.”
Alex Walsh was next and kept the lead with a split of 25.62.
Then Gretchen Walsh then took over she was put in a stunning 9.16 and back in 11.72 in the butterfly for a split of 20.88.
“I am definitely really pleased with the win, with the record,” Gretchen said. “That race notoriously is really difficult because it is the first one, lots of jitters. It is normally sloppy and getting it out of the way in such a manner was a little unexpected, but I am really happy we got that record.
Walsh’s time was her second-best split in her career and out-split 24 of the 26 freestylers in the medley relay.
“The fact that I was able to go that fast bodes well for me. It is cool to have fly be an event where I can go faster than some freestylers. That is where I compare myself to. I look at freestyle splits and see what I want to do. I think there is a lot in store for this meet.”
Maxine Parker brought the Cavaliers home and got to the wall in 1:31.10, which broke the NCAA, American and U.S. Open records that Virginia had set in 2023 (1:31.51).
“It is always great to start off with a bang, getting the momentum going,” Parker said. “This is my last NCAAs and I was getting a little emotional. I love being here with this girls and it is great to pull out a win.”
It took a little while for Parker to get used to the extremely fast and historical splits she would see on relays in front of her.
“The first time Gretchen split a 19, I was anchoring and I looked at the board when she touched, everyone went crazy and I was like, ‘holy s—, that is so fast.’ Then I was like (crap) I gotta get ready to go,” Parker said. “I do have to keep myself focused because they are always doing ‘holy s— stuff.”
Stanford was second in 1:33.00 behind Annika Parkhe, Lucy Thomas, Gigi Johnson and Torri Huske.
In the third heat, Gabi Albiero gave Louisville the lead and Julia Dennis anchored the Cardinals to the heat win at 1:33.41 and finished third overall, along with Abby Carl and Caroline Larsen.
Cal’s Isabelle Stadden, Leah Polonsky, McKenna Stone and Mary-Ambre Moluh took fourth in 1:33.54.
Florida’s Bella Sims, Anita Bottazzo, Olivia Peoples and Micayla Cronk took fifth (1:33.92).
Caroline Bentz split a 10.01 and came back in 11.25 on the anchor leg to lead Arizona State to the heat two win in 1:35.45, breaking the Big 12 record.
LSU opened the meet with a 1:36.85 to claim the first heat of the first race of the NCAA Championships.
Event 1 Women 200 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
NCAA: N 1:31.51 3/15/2023 Virginia
G Walsh, A Walsh, A Cuomo, K Douglass
Meet: M 1:31.51 3/15/2023 Virginia
G Walsh, A Walsh, A Cuomo, K Douglass
American: A 1:31.51 3/15/2023 Virginia
G Walsh, A Walsh, A Cuomo, K Douglass
US Open: O 1:31.51 3/15/2023 Virginia
G Walsh, A Walsh, A Cuomo, K Douglass
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 Virginia 1:31.53 1:31.10N 40
1) Curzan, Claire JR 2) r:0.18 Walsh, Alex 5Y
3) r:0.19 Walsh, Gretchen SR 4) r:0.23 Parker, Maxine 5Y
r:+0.68 11.42 23.17 (23.17)
34.82 (11.65) 48.79 (25.62)
57.95 (9.16) 1:09.67 (20.88)
1:19.85 (10.18) 1:31.10 (21.43)
2 Stanford 1:34.05 1:33.00 34
1) Parkhe, Annika FR 2) r:0.00 Thomas, Lucy SO
3) r:0.23 Johnson, Gigi JR 4) r:0.07 Huske, Torri JR
r:+0.62 12.06 24.23 (24.23)
35.56 (11.33) 49.94 (25.71)
1:00.07 (10.13) 1:12.61 (22.67)
1:22.08 (9.47) 1:33.00 (20.39)
3 Louisville 1:34.55 1:33.41 32
1) Karl, Abby SR 2) r:0.20 Larsen, Caroline FR
3) r:0.12 Albiero, Gabi 5Y 4) r:0.01 Dennis, Julia JR
r:+0.62 11.73 24.05 (24.05)
35.74 (11.69) 50.33 (26.28)
1:00.41 (10.08) 1:12.92 (22.59)
1:22.32 (9.40) 1:33.41 (20.49)
4 California 1:34.24 1:33.54 30
1) Stadden, Isabelle 5Y 2) r:0.00 Polonsky, Lea SR
3) r:0.09 Stone, Mckenna SR 4) r:0.21 Moluh, Mary-Ambre FR
r:+0.69 11.72 23.67 (23.67)
35.20 (11.53) 49.68 (26.01)
1:00.02 (10.34) 1:12.49 (22.81)
1:22.40 (9.91) 1:33.54 (21.05)
5 Florida 1:34.34 1:33.92 28
1) Sims, Bella SO 2) r:0.34 Bottazzo, Anita FR
3) r:0.25 Peoples, Olivia SR 4) r:0.33 Cronk, Micayla SR
r:+0.75 11.56 23.25 (23.25)
35.00 (11.75) 49.37 (26.12)
59.55 (10.18) 1:11.99 (22.62)
1:22.48 (10.49) 1:33.92 (21.93)
6 NC State 1:34.26 1:34.00 25
1) Pelaez, Erika FR 2) r:0.07 Brouwer, Aubree JR
3) r:0.00 Shackley, Leah FR 4) r:0.08 Nel, Olivia JR
r:+0.60 11.64 23.54 (23.54)
35.48 (11.94) 50.42 (26.88)
1:00.50 (10.08) 1:12.78 (22.36)
1:22.77 (9.99) 1:34.00 (21.22)
6 Texas 1:33.84 1:34.00 25
1) Sticklen, Emma 5Y 2) r:0.20 Enge, Piper FR
3) r:0.30 Arens, Abby 5Y 4) r:0.19 Cooper, Grace 5Y
r:+0.63 11.52 23.49 (23.49)
35.36 (11.87) 49.82 (26.33)
59.89 (10.07) 1:12.38 (22.56)
1:22.50 (10.12) 1:34.00 (21.62)
8 ASU 1:35.63 1:34.54 22
1) Sheehan, Miriam SO 2) r:0.07 Adame, Iza SR
3) r:0.24 Ullmann, Julia FR 4) r:0.13 Bentz, Caroline 5Y
r:+0.74 11.86 23.92 (23.92)
35.83 (11.91) 50.57 (26.65)
1:00.95 (10.38) 1:13.28 (22.71)
1:23.29 (10.01) 1:34.54 (21.26)
9 Michigan 1:34.42 1:34.61 18
1) Chung, Casey 5Y 2) r:0.30 Sim, Letitia JR
3) r:0.22 Kendall, Brady JR 4) r:0.44 Flynn, Lindsay SR
r:+0.70 11.63 23.77 (23.77)
35.75 (11.98) 50.45 (26.68)
1:00.77 (10.32) 1:13.15 (22.70)
1:23.35 (10.20) 1:34.61 (21.46)
10 Indiana 1:34.52 1:34.62 14
1) McKenna, Kacey SR 2) r:0.01 Crawford, Brearna SR
3) r:0.22 Grana, Miranda SO 4) r:0.07 Paegle, Kristina JR
r:+0.64 11.72 23.51 (23.51)
35.39 (11.88) 50.22 (26.71)
1:00.86 (10.64) 1:13.66 (23.44)
1:23.41 (9.75) 1:34.62 (20.96)
11 Wisconsin 1:35.04 1:34.69 12
1) Wanezek, Maggie FR 2) r:0.15 Ozkan, Hazal JR
3) r:0.17 Bacon, Phoebe 5Y 4) r:0.26 Tierney, Hailey SO
r:+0.62 11.86 23.85 (23.85)
35.98 (12.13) 50.74 (26.89)
1:00.64 (9.90) 1:13.02 (22.28)
1:23.25 (10.23) 1:34.69 (21.67)
12 Alabama 1:34.36 1:34.96 10
1) Jones, Emily JR 2) r:0.27 Wiseman, Avery SR
3) r:0.35 Scott, Jada SO 4) r:0.15 Vincent, Cadence SO
r:+0.74 11.69 23.66 (23.66)
35.77 (12.11) 50.55 (26.89)
1:01.06 (10.51) 1:13.65 (23.10)
1:23.82 (10.17) 1:34.96 (21.31)
13 Tennessee 1:34.27 1:35.28 8
1) Fuller, Josephine SR 2) r:0.34 Siroky, McKenzie FR
3) r:0.24 Stotler, Sara SR 4) r:0.27 McSharry, Mona 5Y
r:+0.64 11.89 23.98 (23.98)
35.61 (11.63) 50.04 (26.06)
1:00.63 (10.59) 1:13.40 (23.36)
1:23.64 (10.24) 1:35.28 (21.88)
14 TAMU 1:35.43 1:35.33 6
1) Owens, Kaitlyn SR 2) r:0.22 Kennett, Bobbi 5Y
3) r:0.23 Theall, Liv 5Y 4) r:0.14 Stepanek, Chloe 5Y
r:+0.55 11.51 23.60 (23.60)
35.74 (12.14) 50.63 (27.03)
1:00.93 (10.30) 1:13.63 (23.00)
1:23.88 (10.25) 1:35.33 (21.70)
15 USC 1:35.13 1:35.34 4
1) Famous, Caroline 5Y 2) r:0.18 Dobler, Kaitlyn 5Y
3) r:0.35 Abraham, Minna SO 4) r:0.22 Buinaia, Vasilissa 5Y
r:+0.76 11.82 23.93 (23.93)
35.78 (11.85) 50.38 (26.45)
1:00.60 (10.22) 1:13.44 (23.06)
1:23.82 (10.38) 1:35.34 (21.90)
16 UNC 1:35.01 1:35.38 2
1) Pattison, Greer SR 2) r:0.16 Smith, Skyler SR
3) r:0.00 Sowards, Elizabeth SR 4) r:0.22 Nel, Georgia SR
r:+0.61 11.68 23.79 (23.79)
35.39 (11.60) 50.17 (26.38)
1:00.49 (10.32) 1:13.27 (23.10)
1:24.03 (10.76) 1:35.38 (22.11)
17 Auburn 1:34.89 1:35.48
1) Komoroczy, Lora FR 2) r:0.11 Makarova, Stasya SR
3) r:0.07 Gibbons, Abigail 5Y 4) r:0.37 Mulvihill, Lexi SR
r:+0.49 11.63 23.80 (23.80)
35.95 (12.15) 50.62 (26.82)
1:01.10 (10.48) 1:13.78 (23.16)
1:24.12 (10.34) 1:35.48 (21.70)
18 FSU 1:35.13 1:35.53
1) Velden, Alice FR 2) r:0.23 Huggins, Maddy SR
3) r:0.20 Halden, Jenny 5Y 4) r:0.32 Muzito, Gloria SR
r:+0.76 11.71 23.59 (23.59)
35.71 (12.12) 50.51 (26.92)
1:00.74 (10.23) 1:13.37 (22.86)
1:23.96 (10.59) 1:35.53 (22.16)
19 Duke 1:35.11 1:35.60
1) Pfaff, Ali SO 2) r:0.21 Gridley, Kaelyn JR
3) r:0.14 Truong, Kyanh SR 4) r:0.15 Wall, Tatum JR
r:+0.75 11.98 24.39 (24.39)
36.48 (12.09) 51.11 (26.72)
1:01.28 (10.17) 1:13.96 (22.85)
1:24.08 (10.12) 1:35.60 (21.64)
20 OSU 1:35.28 1:35.70
1) Funderburke, Nyah SR 2) r:0.05 DeAngelis, Ava SR
3) r:0.36 Hall, Paige SR 4) r:0.11 Ivan, Teresa SR
r:+0.67 11.55 23.60 (23.60)
35.87 (12.27) 50.34 (26.74)
1:01.15 (10.81) 1:14.07 (23.73)
1:24.30 (10.23) 1:35.70 (21.63)
21 UCLA 1:35.80 1:36.17
1) Lustria, Fay JR 2) r:0.13 Piechowicz, Karlina FR
3) r:0.27 Harvey, Emma 5Y 4) r:0.13 Jih-Schiff, Ana SR
r:+0.48 12.17 24.50 (24.50)
36.61 (12.11) 51.60 (27.10)
1:01.58 (9.98) 1:14.34 (22.74)
1:24.61 (10.27) 1:36.17 (21.83)
22 Pittsburgh 1:35.81 1:36.29
1) Gring, Sydney SO 2) r:0.18 Strong, Jessica JR
3) r:0.32 Yendell, Sophie 5Y 4) r:-0.02 Jansen, Claire JR
r:+0.67 12.22 24.26 (24.26)
36.81 (12.55) 51.98 (27.72)
1:01.83 (9.85) 1:14.18 (22.20)
1:24.56 (10.38) 1:36.29 (22.11)
23 LSU 1:36.51 1:36.85
1) Carlos-Broc, Zoe FR 2) r:0.41 Lyn, Sabrina SO
3) r:0.28 Sartori, Sofia JR 4) r:0.41 De Villiers, Miaela JR
r:+0.65 12.17 24.24 (24.24)
36.53 (12.29) 51.48 (27.24)
1:02.27 (10.79) 1:15.19 (23.71)
1:25.36 (10.17) 1:36.85 (21.66)
24 Cincinnati 1:36.16 1:36.96
1) Schrank, Ellie FR 2) r:0.18 Crye, Joleigh JR
3) r:0.20 Mardis, Kate FR 4) r:0.16 Davis, Jessica 5Y
r:+0.54 12.12 24.63 (24.63)
36.43 (11.80) 51.04 (26.41)
1:01.73 (10.69) 1:15.08 (24.04)
1:25.30 (10.22) 1:36.96 (21.88)
25 Arizona 1:36.16 1:37.12
1) Duchsherer, Lexi SR 2) r:0.25 Gewalt, Eleni JR
3) r:0.13 Sheikhalizadehkryam SO 4) r:0.13 Wozniak, Julia JR
r:+0.76 12.54 25.07 (25.07)
36.99 (11.92) 51.75 (26.68)
1:02.29 (10.54) 1:15.25 (23.50)
1:25.58 (10.33) 1:37.12 (21.87)
26 Notre Dame 1:36.73 1:37.57
1) Geriane, Jess SR 2) r:0.18 Meers, Imogen 5Y
3) r:0.23 Drumm, Katie SR 4) r:0.19 Christman, Madelyn SR
r:+0.58 11.84 23.96 (23.96)
36.36 (12.40) 51.93 (27.97)
1:02.21 (10.28) 1:15.42 (23.49)
1:25.86 (10.44) 1:37.57 (22.15)
