Freshman Focus: Five Swimmers Making Instant Impact on New Teams
A large group of decorated swimmers will suit up for the upcoming college championship season as they seek to continue adding individual and team accolades to their respective résumés. Alex Walsh enters her fifth year of racing having already won eight individual NCAA titles while younger sister Gretchen Walsh has six wins so far. Torri Huske and Hubert Kos will both compete at the NCAA Championships after winning individual Olympic gold in Paris, and the list of talented returnees will also feature accomplished Canadians Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun.
But we can also expect strong swimming from freshman in their first collegiate campaign. Here are a few of the swimmers in their first years on the college scene who have already posted times that rank in the top-10 in their respective events, positioning themselves for a strong spring.
Jillian Cox, Texas
Cox has far more international achievements than most freshmen, having been a finalist in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2023 World Championships before placing in the frustrating third-place spot in both the 400 and 800 free at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Cox, who actually began college at Texas last year but did not compete for the Longhorns until this fall, has been strong out of the gate.
At the Texas Invitational, Cox swam a time of 4:30.68 in the 500 free, more than a second-and-a-half quicker than the winning time from last year’s NCAA Championships and good enough to rank her among the top-10 swimmers ever. She also has the country’s top time in the 1650 free, her 15:34.66 also clear of the 2024 winning mark. And for good measure, Cox competed at the Short Course World Championships in December and earned bronze in the 1500-meter free despite not racing in the fastest heat.
Miroslav Knedla, Indiana
Miroslav Knedla — Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Representing the Czech Republic, Knedla placed 12th in the 100-meter back in Paris, and he also was a finalist in the 50-meter back at the recent Short Course World Championships. Knedla has already clocked 45.27 in the 100 back this season, close to what it took to score in the event at last year’s NCAA Championships, and he fills a huge medley-relay void for Indiana after the graduation of Brendan Burns. Knedla can now combine with a member of the Hoosiers’ deep breaststroke group plus Olympians Tomer Frankel and Rafael Miroslaw for strong medley relays.
Anna Moesch, Virginia
The rich get richer? Moesch looks like the next member of Virginia’s powerhouse sprint group, and she will step into a big role right away for the four-time defending national champions. She has been as fast as 46.76 in the 100 free, ranked fourth in the country, and her presence alongside the Walsh sisters and Claire Curzan will put the Cavaliers in position to challenge the NCAA records in the sprint relays yet again. She has also clocked 1:43.12 in the 200 free and 21.84 in the 50 free, times that will likely be good enough for second swims on the national level in March.
Mary-Ambre Moluh, Cal
Moluh comes to Cal with Olympic experience, having helped France to a sixth-place finish in the 400 free relay in Paris. She has performed extremely well since arriving in Berkeley, as one of only four women to break 50 in the 100-yard back thus far this season. Her top time of 49.68 is less than four tenths away from the nation-leading mark while ranking third overall, and she broke the Golden Bears’ team record that had belonged to Natalie Coughlin since 2002. Moluh also has a 50 free best time of 21.63, ranked sixth nationally, and her 100 free time of 47.63 is ninth.
Johnny Crush, Army
This Black Knights freshman has shaken up the rankings in sprint backstroke after he clock3ed 44.53 in the 100 back at the Army-Navy meet last month. Only Will Modglin of Texas has beaten that time thus far this season, and Crush is ahead of veterans Destin Lasco and Owen McDonald in the national rankings. His 20.64 split in the 50 backstroke would have ranked among the top-eight leadoff legs in the 200 medley relay at last year’s NCAAs. Crush comes from a strong swimming family and a strong club backstroke at Lakeside Swim Club in Kentucky, and he could help Army to big points at the national level.
