Madden, Walsh, DeSorbo honored with ACC Swimming & Diving awards

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia swimming & diving won three 2021 ACC Annual Awards, the league office announced on Wednesday.

Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala.) was named ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Year, Alex Walsh (Nashville, Tenn.) was named ACC Women’s Freshman of the Year and head coach Todd DeSorbo won ACC Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year.

Madden, who was also the 2020 ACC Swimmer of the Year, helped lead Virginia to its first NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship with three individual titles, the most by any swimmer. Madden was also a member of the NCAA champion 800-yard freestyle relay. She did not lose an individual race in the 2021 ACC or NCAA Championships. Madden improved her own UVA record in the 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships and set a school record with the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Walsh earned ACC Freshman of the Year after helping the Cavaliers to their first NCAA Championship. Walsh won an individual title in the 200-yard individual medley and was part of UVA’s 800-yard freestyle relay NCAA title in her first career NCAA Championship. She finished with six All-America honors. Walsh was a part of four of UVA’s relay ACC titles and won the 200-yard individual medley at the ACC Championships. She also finished third in the 200-yard backstroke and fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke.

DeSorbo, the CSCAA Women’s Team Coach of the Year, led the Cavaliers to the league’s first NCAA Championship, securing the 2021 NCAA title. Virginia won six national titles in individual and relay events at the NCAA Championships, the most ever by an ACC team. The Cavaliers had twelve athletes named to CSCAA All-America Teams (ten first team and two second team). Virginia also won their third women’s ACC Championship in four years, and league-record 17th overall.