First-Year Success at Virginia Undisputed for Maximus Williamson and Thomas Heilman
The moment Maximus Williamson and Thomas Heilman committed to the University of Virginia, it was a recruiting coup for coach Todd DeSorbo and his staff. Under DeSorbo’s watch, the Cavaliers’ women’s program has risen to untouchable status, evident in six consecutive NCAA championships. But the men’s program has tottered along, overshadowed by the other sex.
So, the ability of DeSorbo to lure Williamson and Heilman to Charlottesville was a critical first step in establishing forward momentum for the men. The second step in the process was ensuring that Williamson and Heilman exhibited growth from their vast pre-UVA accomplishments, which included multiple national age-group records. If both young men could improve during their initial college campaigns, it would serve as proof that Virginia is not just a destination for elite female talent.
Consider the early part of the mission accomplished.
At the just-concluded NCAA Championships, Williamson and Heilman led the Cavaliers to a ninth-place finish in the team standings. It was the program’s first top-10 showing since 2022, and included titles from Williamson in the 200-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley. Heilman checked in with a runnerup finish in the 200 butterfly and a fourth-place effort in the 100 fly, while both played critical roles in relay action.
As well as Williamson and Heilman performed at NCAAs, the latter gallantly amid family tragedy, their overall growth since arriving on campus tells the biggest story. In their primary events, Williamson and Heilman improved across the board. Williamson’s biggest jump arrived in the 200 IM, where he cut more than two seconds from his prior best. As for Heilman, he sliced nearly a second from his personal best in the 200 butterfly.
Other improvements were not as significant, but there were no steps backward, and in a sport measured by hundredths of a second, every PB is important. Williamson also improved in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. As for Heilman, he complemented the 200 fly with new top times in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 100 fly.
In recruiting discussions, Williamson and Heilman can be used as selling points to potential targets by DeSorbo & Co. More, they should be riding momentum into the summer and their sophomore years, confident their transition to the college scene is just the start of something bigger.
Maximus Williamson – Time Progressions
Thomas Heilman – Time Progressions
