Swimming & Diving: Walsh sisters named two of four finalists for Honda Award

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia multi-time All-Americans and NCAA champions Alex and Gretchen Walsh have been named as two of the four finalists for the Class of 2024 Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving, as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) on Wednesday.

The other finalists are Bella Sims of Florida and Aranza Vazquez Montano of North Carolina.

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.”

The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2024 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.

The swimming & diving finalists were selected by a panel of experts and coaches from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

The Honda Sport award winner for swimming & diving will be announced after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.

The Walsh sisters, hailing from Nashville, Tenn., helped Virginia to its fourth consecutive NCAA team title and the team’s fifth consecutive ACC Championship title this year.

Alex Walsh, a senior, captured three individual NCAA titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 Breaststroke and also swam on three NCAA Championship relay teams- 200 Free relay, 400 Medley relay and 400 Free relay. Overall, she is a 19-time NCAA Champion and a 27-time CSCAA All-American.

Gretchen Walsh is a junior and a two-time Honda Award finalist. She was named the 2024 CSCAA Swimmer of the Year after capturing three individual NCAA titles setting the fastest times ever in those races for the 50 Free, 100 Free and 100 Fly. She also swam legs on all four of UVA’s championship relay teams- 200 Free relay, 400 Free relay, 200 Medley relay and 400 Medley relay.

The CWSA, entering its 48th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.

Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.