NEW COMMIT: The University of Virginia has earned a new verbal commitment for the 2020-21 season and beyond from Guildford, Great Britain’s Sophia Wilson. Her old sister, Alicia Wilson, is an NCAA qualifier for Cal.
She will join Abby Harter, Anna Keating, Emma Weyant and Alex Walsh who will all suit up for the Hoos as members of the class of 2024.
A backstroke and IM specialist, Wilson does her club swimming with Millfield School and has represented Great Britain internationally throughout Europe and North America. She recently earned bronze in the 200 back for the 17-18 age group at the 2019 British Summer Championships with a time that ranks her 14th in the UK this year. At the 2017 British Summer Championships, she won a pair of gold medals in the 16-year-old category.
She told Swimming World:
“I’m really happy to commit to such an excellent school with one of the top swimming programmes. Especially working with Todd DeSobro as I love how happy all his swimmers are and how he makes the work so enjoyable to reach your full potential. It’s definitely a big commitment moving half way across the world, but I know it is the best decision for me.”
In LCM, her best times include:
- 200 IM – 2.18.24
- 400 IM – 4.53.02
- 100 back – 1.03.06
- 200 back – 2.14.36
- 200 breast – 2.34.85
In SCY, those times convert to:
- 200 IM – 2:01.65
- 400 IM – 4:18.21
- 100 back – 55.72
- 200 back – 1:58.88
- 200 breast – 2:15.90
Even with a year of club swimming still to go before arriving in Charlottesville, Wilson will surely make an immediate impact on the Hoos’ roster. Her best 400 IM time (converted to yards) is just on the outskirts of B-final scoring range at the 2019 ACC Championships where Virginia finished second overall in the team standings.
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Eleanor Perks Wendy Perks