Virginia Women Stay Perfect; Hokie Men Pull Off Upset vs. Cavaliers ...Middle East

By Robert Gibbs on SwimSwam

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers made the trip to Christiansburg Saturday to take on their in-state and ACC rivals, the Virginia Tech Hokies. The #1 Cavalier women improved to 7-0 in dual meets this season with a 201-97, while the Hokies men won 157-104.

The Virginia Tech men have now won five straight over UVA, bringing the all-time series record to 11 wins for the Hokies and 28 for the Cavaliers. The Virginia men are currently ranked higher in both the dual meet (#21 vs)  and Power Rankings (#14), based on the strength of their freshman class, while the Virginia Tech men are unranked after losing most of their core to graduation. While UVA’s freshman class did close the gap on the roughly 90-point margins from the last two years, the Hokies’ win streak stayed alive.

Women’s Recap

The top-ranked Virginia women remained unbeaten on Saturday, winning 15 of 16 swimming events in a 201–87 victory over Virginia Tech and setting five pool records in the process.

The Cavaliers set the tone immediately in the 200 medley relay, as Claire Curzan (23.52), Leah Hayes (27.64), Carly Novelline (23.16), and Madi Mintenko (21.88) posted a 1:36.20 to establish a new facility record. The Cavaliers were largely racing amongst themselves, as their ‘B’ team touched in 1:36.68, highlighted by Zoe Skirboll’s 26.80, the best in the field, and the ‘C’ team finished in 3rd at 1:36.81, as Bryn Gerenwaldt anchored in a field-leading time 21.45.

Curzan, an Olympic silver medalist and multiple-time NCAA champion, followed with two more pool records of her own, going 50.25 in the 100 back and 1:51.00 in the 200 back. Curzan currently holds season-best times of 49.17/1:47.89, with both times leading the NCAA this season. Curzan wrapped up the meet with a 21.23 anchor leg on the 200 free relay, helping the Cavaliers to a 1:29.06 victory in that event.

Hayes, last year’s NCAA B-final champion in the 200 IM, erased one of the oldest marks on the pool record board in that event, clocking 1:57.46 to break a record that had stood since 2012. Anna Moesch added another pool record in the 50 free with a 21.58, giving Virginia five new pool records on the day.

Beyond the record-setting swims, the Cavaliers controlled the rest of the meet behind wins from Katie Grimes in the 1650 free (15:53.20), Mintenko in the 500 free (4:45.85), and Moesch in the 200 free (1:42.77).

Virginia also swept the breaststroke and butterfly events, with Hayes winning the 100 breast (1:01.03), Emma Weber taking the 200 breast (2:11.35), Sara Curtis claiming the 100 fly (52.53), and Lana Pudar winning the 200 fly (1:55.88).

Virginia Tech’s only swimming victory came in the 100 free, won by Emily Claesson in 48.78. With no Cavaliers diving this year, the Hokies swept the diving events with Grace Austin taking the 1m (272.40) and Peyton Guziec winning the 3m (288.53).

Men’s Recap

Virginia Tech made the most of Senior Day on Saturday, knocking off the #14 Virginia men 157–104 behind a dominant sprint performance from junior Brendan Whitfield and a strong showing across the lineup.

The Hokies jumped out to an early lead after a narrow victory in the 200 medley relay. Virginia actually outsplit VT on three of the four relay legs, but sophomore Eli Martin delivered the key split with a 23.59 breaststroke leg, as the Hokies touched in 1:25.16 to Virginia’s 1:25.23.

Whitfield, a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier last summer and one of the top returning sprinters in the ACC, swept the sprint freestyle events. He won the 50 free in 19.12, the 100 free in 43.52, and the 200 free in 1:33.42, accounting for 27 individual points on his own. Whitfield also led off the 200 free relay with a 19.02, helping the Hokies to another narrow relay victory (1:17.23 to 1:17.37) despite a pair of 19.0 splits from freshmen Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson.

Martin added a breaststroke double, touching first in the 100 breast (51.93) and the 200 breast (1:57.38). His 100 breast time moved him to #4 on Virginia Tech’s all-time list and tied him for 25th nationally this season, continuing a breakout sophomore campaign. Martin came into the season with a 100 breast lifetime best of 53.10, and he’s lowered his best by over a second this season, putting him within striking range of a likely NCAA invite.

Distance specialist Jakub Poliacik added another key win in the 500 free, clocking 4:18.69 to move into 7th in program history, while Levente Balogh took the 200 back in 1:42.39. The Hokies also claimed both relays, opening the meet with a 1:25.23 in the 200 medley relay and closing with a 1:17.23 in the 200 free relay.

Virginia earned five individual wins despite the loss, led by Thomas Heilman in both butterfly events (45.57 in the 100 fly, 1:42.36 in the 200 fly). Heilman, a former World Junior champion and U.S. national team member, continues to anchor the Cavaliers’ lineup. Fellow freshman Maximus Williamson won the 200 IM (1:44.51), took 3rd in the 200 back (1:43.40), and took 2nd in the 100 breast (52.88). That 100 breast time was a new lifetime best. The Cavaliers’ other two wins came from sophomores Dillon Wright in the 1650 free (15:21.44) and Spencer Nicholas in the 100 back (46.36).

Virginia Tech sealed the team win by sweeping the (uncontested) diving events, with Nathan Cox winning on the 1m (359.40) and Jacob Fisher taking the 3m (346.95).

Up Next

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Virginia Women Stay Perfect; Hokie Men Pull Off Upset vs. Cavaliers

Hence then, the article about virginia women stay perfect hokie men pull off upset vs cavaliers was published today ( Tuesday 20/01/2026 - 02:31 AM ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Virginia Women Stay Perfect; Hokie Men Pull Off Upset vs. Cavaliers )

Also on site :

• Yale Sets Five New Pool Records In Bulldogs’ Senior Night Sweep of Cornell
• I warned Colorado lawmakers this law was unconstitutional and now they will pay millions in attorney fees (Opinion)
• Red, white and ready: Ferrari unveil 2026 F1 race suits