The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced the women’s NCAA Division I award winners for the 2024-25 season on Mar. 24th. The announcement comes with the end of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Division I Championships in Federal Way, Washington, where the University of Virginia won its fifth-straight team title.
Swim Coach & Swimmer of The Year
Unsurprisingly, the Cavaliers picked up multiple awards, which are determined by a vote of the CSCAA-Member Division I head swimming coaches and head diving coaches. Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo was named the Women’s DI Swim Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. DeSorbo’s Cavaliers earned gold in 10 events, including four relays, winning the team title with 544 points, 127 more than runner-up Stanford.
A crucial piece of Virginia’s championship roster was Gretchen Walsh, named the Women’s DI Swimmer of the Year award for the second straight year. Walsh swept her individual events for the second year in a row, putting on dominant performances in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 100 freestyle.
She broke her 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle NCAA records during the event finals and tied her 50 freestyle mark leading off the 200 freestyle relay. She swam 46.97 in the 100 butterfly, breaking her record for the second time that day and becoming the first woman sub-47 seconds in the event. No other woman has broken 48 seconds. Walsh wrapped up her individual NCAA career by establishing a 44.71 all-time mark in the 100 freestyle.
She was the only swimmer to sweep her individual events at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Gretchen Walsh’s Results
- 50 freestyle: 1st, 20.49
- 100 butterfly: 1st, 46.97 NCAA Record
- 100 freestyle: 1st, 44.71 NCAA Record
- 200 medley relay: 1st, 1:31.10 NCAA Record — 20.88 butterfly split
- 200 freestyle relay: 1st, 1:24.45 — 20.37 lead-off =NCAA Record
- 400 medley relay: 1st, 3:20.20 — 47.35 butterfly split
- 400 freestyle relay: 1st, 3:06.01 — 45.04 relay split
Diving Coach & Diver of The Year
Texas coach Matt Scoggin won Women’s DI Diving Coach of the Year, earning the award for the sixth time in his career. This is the 12th overall NCAA Coach of the Year honor Scoggin has won in his career, as he’s also been awarded on the men’s side.
The Texas women’s divers scored a combined 92 points in Federal Way, the most of any diving program. Three divers scored on the 1-meter and 3-meter events, with two athletes reaching finals on the platform.
Scoggin coached freshman Alejandra Estudillo to the win on the women’s 3-meter event. She scored in all three diving events, taking 6th on the 1-meter and 10th on the platform. Sophomore Bayleigh Crawford placed third on the platform and seventh 3-meter, while senior Hailey Hernandez finished fifth on the 1-meter board.
Miami-FL’s Chiara Pellacani was named the Women’s DI Diver of the Year for the first time. Part of a successful Hurricanes roster, Pellacani scored a team-high 37 points as the team notched a 13th-place finish at the championships.
Pellacani earned her points by winning the 1-meter competition and taking second in the 3-meter.
Chiara Pellacani’s Results
- 1-meter diving: 1st, 354.65 points
- 3-meter diving: 2nd, 387.60 points
