The Virginia men’s swimming team had not just an impressive performance at this year’s NCAA Championships, but one of the program’s most impressive in its history. The Hoos placed 9th overall, jumping up the standings from last year when they placed 33rd. UVA also scored a total of 192 points, the second-highest point total in program history. The team had a total of six podium finishes in the individual events, the most in program history.
Much of this success came through the youngest swimmers, as it was the freshmen who scored a whopping 72 points for the Cavaliers.
The performance from this year’s team is a clear sign of the progression the Hoos have made throughout the season, and potentially what they have in store for next season.
Star Swimmers And Podium Finishes
The UVA men set a decisive tone for the meet early, opening with a 6:06.85 that earned a 4th place finish in the 800 free relay. Freshman Maximus Williamson led off the relay in 1:30.43, followed by sophomore David King, who kept pace at 1:31.09. Freshman Thomas Heilman swam the third leg in 1:32.06 and senior Jack Aikins capped it all off in 1:33.27. This explosive race set a new school record and shaved nearly four seconds off of the team’s 6:10.17 entry time. With the Hoos’ performance in the event, the men on day 1 already had more points than they scored the entire NCAA meet last year.
In the 100 butterfly, freshman Thomas Heilman went a lifetime best in 43.58. Heilman got 4th, following closely behind Arizona State’s Ilya Kharun.
Maximus Williamson produced a dominant performance in the 200 free, winning the event from lane 8 in 1:30.03. What makes this victory even better is that it might not have happened if it had not been for another Cavalier. Earlier that day, Williamson tied with his teammate David King in the preliminary swim. Rather than have a swim-off, King gave up his potential spot in the A finals, a decision that could not have worked out better for the team. This set a new personal best for Williamson and delivered his first NCAA win. He is also the first freshman to win the event since 2016. To cap it all off, this also became the first individual NCAA win for Virginia since Matt McLean won the 500 free in 2011.
The Cavaliers’ 400 medley relay swam its way to the podium, finishing 8th in 3:00.55. David King led the relay off with the 100 backstroke and his split of 45.05 tied UVA’s school record. Senior Matthew Heilman followed with a 100 breaststroke split of 51.87. Joining his brother in their final race together, Thomas Heilman swam a 100 butterfly split of 42.97. Maximus Williamson finished the relay with a 100 freestyle split of 40.66. The relay not only set a new UVA school record, but it was also just 0.21 seconds shy of the American record.
In the 200 IM, Williamson certainly gave the crowd an entertaining race. He started off strong but was unable to get ahead and take the lead in the first 100. When the 50 breaststroke rolled around, Williamson made his move, splitting a 29.05 and starting to move ahead. In the final 50, he left it all in the pool, splitting a 23.72 to out-touch Indiana’s Owen McDonald by just 0.09 seconds. Williamson finished in 1:38.48, setting a new personal best by more than two seconds and earning his second individual NCAA title.
Thomas Heilman kept the Cavalier momentum going by taking silver in the 200 butterfly. His split of 50.78 on the back half of the race pushed him into 2nd as he finished in 1:30.16. This set a UVA school record and a lifetime best for Heilman. The race was a close one, with Heilman coming in half a second behind Arizona State’s Ilya Kharun, who proved to be tough competition for the Cavaliers.
Virginia clearly wanted to close out the meet with impressive individual swims as David King and Jack Aikins continued the run of podium finishes. King finished 3rd in the 200 backstroke in 1:37.43, a new lifetime best and a UVA school record. Senior Jack Aikins closed out his final NCAA’s by placing 8th in 1:40.69.
Coming To A Close
With the season over and many Cavaliers set to graduate soon, both the men and women will now prepare for a fresh wave of swimmers to join the program before the start of the 2026-27 season. With the women continuing their dynasty of NCAA titles and the men showing incredible progression with a jump to the top 10, it is clear that the Cavaliers have more exciting swimming ahead of them.
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