Get ready to dive into a swimming showdown that’s already making waves! Bryn Greenwaldt just scorched a jaw-dropping 21.13 split in the 50 free, while Sara Curtis made her UVA debut with a blistering 21.97 flat-start—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can this new squad truly fill the shoes of last year’s NCAA title-winning team? Let’s dive in.
Today, September 27, the University of Virginia’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are competing in an exhibition meet at Navy’s Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Maryland. The action is live on Meet Mobile under ‘USNA v UVA,’ and the results are already turning heads. In the 200 freestyle relay, UVA’s women’s team showcased their newest talent: freshman Sara Curtis, junior Melissa Nwakalor, freshman Sylvia Roy, and graduate student Bryn Greenwaldt. These four didn’t just swim—they dominated. Curtis kicked things off with a 21.97, Nwakalor followed with a 21.96, Roy split a 22.56, and Greenwaldt anchored with a scorching 21.13. Their final time? A stunning 1:27.62—all without wearing technical suits. And this is the part most people miss: Curtis’s time now ranks her as the 10th-fastest woman in UVA history, knocking Lauren Perdue’s 22.01 from 2011 out of the top ten and making the entire list sub-22 seconds. Talk about making a splash!
Here’s how the top ten stacks up now:
- Gretchen Walsh – 20.37 (2025)
- Kate Douglass – 20.84 (2022)
- Jasmine Nocentini – 21.10 (2024)
- Claire Curzan – 21.11 (2025)
- Caitlin Cooper – 21.54 (2018)
- Maxine Parker – 21.61 (2024)
- Lexi Cuomo – 21.61 (2023)
- Morgan Hill – 21.68 (2019)
- Anna Moesch – 21.84 (2024)
- Sara Curtis – 21.97 (2025)
But let’s not forget Bryn Greenwaldt’s historic feat from last March. Competing in both swimming and track and field at the Division II NCAA Championships, she became an All-American in both sports—on the same day. How’s that for versatility? She finished 8th in the high jump, then less than an hour later placed 8th in the 100 free. Oh, and did we mention she holds the Division II record with a 21.92 in the prelims, becoming the first Division II swimmer to break the 22-second barrier? She later claimed the NCAA title with a 22.09. Talk about a double threat!
Now, let’s talk about Sara Curtis, the Italian sensation making her short course yards debut. At the World Championships last July, Curtis—who holds Italy’s 100 free record (53.01)—took 9th in the 50 free with a 24.48 after breaking her own national record (24.41) in the prelims. She also placed 8th in the 100 free with a 53.41 and anchored Italy’s mixed 4×100 medley relay, swimming a 52.88 to secure a 6th-place finish. Her versatility and speed are undeniable, but how will she adapt to the collegiate scene? Only time will tell.
Melissa Nwakalor is another standout. After two seasons at the University of Richmond, she’s brought her talent to UVA with two years of eligibility left. As a freshman, she claimed the Atlantic-10 title in the 50 free with a 22.78, but her prelims time of 22.55 hinted at even greater potential. By her sophomore year, she’d shattered the conference record with a 21.98 and added a title in the 100 free (48.78). At the 2025 NCAA Championships, she finished 24th in the 50 free (22.01) and 70th in the 100 free (49.48). Her trajectory? Skyward.
Then there’s Sylvia Roy, a freshman backstroke specialist who’s no slouch in sprint freestyle either. Her 22.57 in the 50 free is impressive, but her 52.53 in the 100 back is her true standout event. With bests of 49.13 in the 100 free and 1:56.43 in the 200 back, she’s a versatile asset for the Cavaliers.
This relay performance is a huge boost for UVA’s end-of-season hopes, especially after graduating two of the four legs from last year’s NCAA title-winning team. Louisville, their biggest rival, graduated just one leg and added freshman Julie Mishler (21.62 flat start), so the competition is fierce. Last year at NCAAs, UVA’s Gretchen Walsh tied her own NCAA record with a 20.37 lead-off, followed by Claire Curzan (21.18), Maxine Parker (21.56), and Anna Moesch (21.34) for a title-winning 1:24.45. With Curzan and Moesch returning, and Curtis and Greenwaldt now in the mix, UVA looks unstoppable—but will they be?
Here’s the burning question: Can UVA reclaim the NCAA title with this new lineup, or will Louisville’s fresh talent tip the scales? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is just getting started. Stay tuned for a full dual meet recap on SwimSwam by the weekend’s end!
