NCAA Champion Reilly Tiltmann of Virginia has introduced her medical retirement from aggressive swimming. Tiltmann graduated highschool early and arrived at Virginia in spring 2021, making NCAAs in all 4 seasons.
Making an instantaneous affect upon her arrival, Tiltmann was 2nd within the 100 again, fifth within the 200 again, and ninth within the 100 fly at 2021 ACCs. She went on to qualify for 2021 NCAAs, ending fifth within the 200 again and ninth within the 100 again to assist Virginia to the NCAA title. She additionally swam backstroke on the 400 medley relay that completed 2nd.
In her first full season with the staff, Tiltmann received her first particular person ACC title, capturing the 200 again in a 1:50.49. She additionally was third within the 100 again and 4th within the 200 free. She made the NCAA ‘A’ closing of each backstroke occasions and helped Virginia to an NCAA title within the 400 free relay swimming alongside Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, and Kate Douglass.
As a junior, Tiltmann captured one other NCAA relay title, swimming alongside Aimee Canny, Alex Walsh, and Ella Nelson because the staff received the 800 free relay. She additionally made the 2023 NCAA ‘A’ closing of the 200 backstroke.
This previous season, Tiltmann captured the 200 backstroke ACC title, was third within the 100 again, and sixth within the 200 free. She made the NCAA ‘B’ closing of each backstroke occasions and swam on Virginia’s 800 free relay that completed 4th.
Her season greatest within the 100 again this 12 months got here in January as she swam a 52.13 and her 200 again season greatest got here at midseason as she swam a 1:54.28. Her greatest instances stand at a 50.42 and 1:49.63.
Tiltmann additionally represented the US on the worldwide stage as she received silver within the 200 backstroke on the Pan Am Video games in fall 2023 after ending sixth within the 200 again at 2023 US Summer season Nationals.
Though the Virginia ladies are closely favored to win their fifth NCAA title in a row, the lack of Tiltmann will sting as she was the staff’s solely backstroke finalist eventually 12 months’s NCAAs and in addition was on a minimum of one NCAA relay in all 4 seasons.
NCAA invitations might be despatched out in a month and Tiltmann’s retirement doubtless brings the staff’s NCAA roster down by one. Final 12 months, the Cavaliers had 19 swimmers invitations, another than the roster cap of 18. The staff additionally dropped one other swimmer to make room for a diver to have 17 swimmers and one diver on the meet. Out of the 18 swimmers initially invited final 12 months, solely three (Abby Harter, Jasmine Nocentini, and Ella Nelson) graduated.
