By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
Maxine Parker has announced that she will return to Virginia to use her COVID-19 fifth year. Parker transferred to Virginia for her junior season and has been a key part of their sprint group for the last two years.
Parker made NCAAs as a freshman at Georgia, swimming in the ‘B’ final of both the 50 and 100 freestyles. As a sophomore, she earned an individual invite and swam in prelims of the 50 and 100 freestyles while swimming on four of Georgia’s relays.
She then transferred to Virginia for her junior and senior seasons. As a junior, she made three NCAA finals including the ‘A’ final in the 200 freestyle. She finished 5th in the 200 free, 10th in the 100 free, and 14th in the 50 free to score a total of 23.5 points. That made her the team’s fifth-highest individual scorer as they swam to another NCAA title.
Not only did Parker have an individual impact but she also helped the team’s 200 and 400 freestyle relays to NCAA titles. The team’s 400 free relay also swam American and NCAA records.
As a senior, Parker returned to help the team to another ACC title and also helped the team set the NCAA record in the 200 free relay at 2024 ACCs.
At 2024 NCAAs, Parker finished 7th in the 50 free in a personal best time of a 21.74. She also was 16th in the 100 free to score a total of 12.5 individual points. She also swam on four relays, helping the team to wins in the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays.
Parker also has experience at the international level as she most recently represented the US last summer at the 2023 World Championships. She swam in prelims on the women’s 4×100 free relay helping them to be seeded second heading into finals. The relay went on to win silver.
The return of Parker brings another core piece to the Virginia roster back this upcoming season as Alex Walsh already announced her return for her fifth year. The biggest name that has not announced their decision yet is Jasmine Nocentini.
The team will welcome the arrival of Claire Curzan who took an Olympic Redshirt this past season. In addition to Curzan, the team has numerous top 20 commits in the high school class of 2024 including #2 Leah Hayes, #7 Anna Moesch, #8 Katie Christopherson, #9 Bailey Hartman, and #15 Elise Clift.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: NCAA Record Holder Maxine Parker Returning To Virginia For 5th Year