{"id":393477,"date":"2020-01-04T15:10:58","date_gmt":"2020-01-04T22:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=393477"},"modified":"2020-01-06T08:55:14","modified_gmt":"2020-01-06T15:55:14","slug":"gretchen-walsh-joins-sister-alex-with-huge-verbal-commitment-to-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/gretchen-walsh-joins-sister-alex-with-huge-verbal-commitment-to-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Gretchen Walsh Joins Sister Alex With Huge Verbal Commitment to Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>United States National Team member Gretchen Walsh<\/strong>, arguably the most sought-out recruit in the Class of 2021, has verbally committed to Virginia. The Nashville, Tenn. native and standout sprinter will join the Cavaliers<\/a>\u00a0as a member of the class of 2025.<\/p>\n

Her older sister, fellow National Teamer\u00a0Alex Walsh<\/strong>, has also committed to the University of Virginia<\/a> and will join the Hoos in the fall of 2020, making this a 2-for-1 deal for head coach\u00a0Todd DeSorbo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Walsh does her club swimming with Nashville Aquatic Club under coaches\u00a0John Morse<\/strong> and\u00a0Doug Wharam<\/strong>. She was recently named to the 2019-2020 U.S. National Team for her stellar performance in 50m free and 100m free at FINA World Juniors. She currently owns four 15-16 National Age Group records in the 50 free, 50m free, 100 free and 4×50 medley relay.<\/p>\n

Walsh earned a pair of gold medals the 50m and 100m free at the 7th FINA World Junior Championships this past summer, just shy off the championship record in both events. The team captain also anchored the winning 4x100m medley relay, led off the victorious 4x100m free relay, and anchored the World Junior record-setting mixed 4x100m free relay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prior to Budapest, Walsh was the runner-up in both the 50m and 100m free at the Phillips 66 National Championships where she also won the 100m back B-final with a time that would’ve secured the silver medal overall. At Juniors East in December 2018, Walsh won both of her signature events and took second in the 100 back.<\/p>\n

A current junior at dominant Harpeth Hall<\/a>, Gretchen Walsh has also made a splash on the high school scene. As a sophomore, she recorded a blistering 21.19 split on her team’s second-place 4×50 medley relay while also winning the 100 back and 100 fly, setting a state record<\/a> in the latter event. She earned victories in the 50 free and 100 back during her freshman season while splitting a 21.64 to anchor her team’s 4×50 medley relay en route to setting a new girls’ independent high school record<\/a> in 2018.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Gretchen Walsh (@gretchwalsh2)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n