Torri Huske Hoping to Lead Stanford to Rivalry in Last School Season
Earlier than Virginia started its present five-year run atop ladies’s school swimming, Stanford was the powerhouse program. Beneath head coach Greg Meehan, the Cardinal gained nationwide titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, Ella Eastin and Brooke Forde profitable nationwide titles whereas Lia Neal and Taylor Ruck, each Olympic medalists earlier than arriving in Palo Alto, had been key contributors.
After that run, although, the crew wouldn’t earn one other top-two end on the nationwide stage till this previous March, when Stanford held off Texas by 23 factors for runnerup honors. Torri Huske, already an Olympic gold medalist, gained her first particular person nationwide crown within the 200 IM whereas breakout performances from Caroline Bricker (400 IM) and Lucy Bell (200 breaststroke) resulted in additional victories. Stanford was the one non-Virginia crew to select up a relay win because the crew completed 4 seconds forward of the Cavaliers within the 800 free relay.
Is it doable, if the whole lot goes proper, for Stanford to overhaul Virginia? Sisters Gretchen and Alex Walsh are finished with school swimming whereas Huske will likely be again for one remaining spherical with Stanford. However Stanford had its losses too; most notable was distance specialist Aurora Roghair, who completed second within the 500 and 1650 free on the nationwide stage final yr whereas taking part in a key position on Stanford’s profitable 800 free relay. Lillie Nordmann, one other member of that relay who has been a constant three-event scorer on the nationwide stage, additionally exhausted her eligibility.
And Meehan can also be gone, having left the faculty ranks to direct the USA Swimming Nationwide Workforce. Taking his place is Chris Lindauer, the previous head coach at Notre Dame, whereas Annie Lazor is the lead assistant coach after a stellar skilled profession within the breaststroke occasions after which teaching for 2 years at Florida.
This season, Huske is clearly one of the best feminine swimmer within the school ranks. In her first three years, she needed to cope with each Walshes in addition to UVA’s Kate Douglass, however not anymore. Huske would be the clear favourite to win nationwide titles in all three of her particular person occasions. She took down Alex Walsh within the 200 IM final season, however this time she might go for both that race or the 50 free on day one of many nationwide meet. Solely Gretchen Walsh was higher within the 100 free and 100 fly.
Caroline Bricker — Picture Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
This longshot bid at difficult Virginia will depend on additional enhancements from Bricker and Bell. Throughout the lengthy course season, Bricker took an unlimited step by profitable the U.S. nationwide title within the 200-meter fly, and she or he raced within the remaining of the occasion on the World Championships. Again for her junior yr in school swimming, she ought to rating much more factors due to quite a few big-name graduations. She is the highest returning finisher within the school model of the 200 fly, and if Huske skips the 200 IM in favor of the 50 free this yr, Bricker and Bell could be the one returning A-finalists within the occasion.
For Stanford to place a scare into Virginia and even return to the top-two on the NCAA Championships, it’ll want the supporting gamers to come back via, as was the case final March. Kayla Wilson is the one different returning A-finalist, having completed sixth within the 200 free on the 2025 nationwide meet, whereas the crew’s returning B-finalists embody Gigi Johnson, Natalie Mannion, Lucy Thomas and Emily Thompson. An additional leap from anybody on this group may have Stanford in enterprise.
With this loaded roster, Lindauer finds himself in an enviable state of affairs for a first-year coach but additionally a difficult one as he takes over for one of many sport’s most achieved leaders. If he may also help a few of Stanford’s depth items take additional steps, the core of Huske, Bricker and Bell ought to make the Cardinal a tricky out this spring.
