On SwimSwam Podcast, we’re giving you an in-depth listen at all things swimming. Host Coleman Hodges welcomes guests and guest co-hosts alike to get perspective on our ever-changing swimming universe and break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.
We sat down with Virginia team captain Alexis Wenger, who is just about to start her junior campaign with the hoos. Wenger talked us through her swimming career and how she ended up swimming for Todd DeSorbo in Charlottesville, as well as her first season. She was candid about her freshman year being a big transition, and the first couple of months being a difficult time. However, Wenger started seeing improvements once she made it over the hump, and became a key player for UVA her freshman and sophomore years.
This year in particular, she was a major player in a team that was ready to challenge for an NCAA title, as the team was seeded 1st in the psych sheets and Wenger was seeded 2nd in the 100 breast. Wenger walked us through how the team has moved forward and set their sights on the upcoming season for another shot at the title.
Wenger also walked us through growing up as a bi-racial woman, and although she says she didn’t have any blatantly racist experiences, she’s doing what she can now to educate herself and be a leader in her community to this social cause. She’s starting to think forward of how we can make change not only 5 days or 5 weeks from now, but 5 months, 5 years, and beyond.
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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
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Interesting that the Wenig father seems to play an active part in coaching decisions. I understand that there are other similarly ‘involved’ parents at UVA. Isn’t that supposed to end by the collegiate level?
Coach DeSorbo is an excellent diplomat. He has an open ear to virtually everyone (parents, club coaches, alums, etc.), but he is wise enough to make decisions in consultation with his staff and the athlete(s). This is leadership (and, so far, it’s working pretty well). If you listen carefully, Alexis’s Dad has made suggestions and given advice, but has not made decisions. In fact, if the Wenger parents had their way in 2018, Alexis would have likely attended Michigan (but they are die-hard UVA converts now!). Bring on the down-votes.
PS Alexis: You did a wonderful job representing yourself, your family and your UVA family. I am proud of you!
So far no one rested/tapored/or prepared for conference special in any way according to SwimSwam interviews – I just want to say no power 5 conference team is going into the conference championship famished, completely broken down, barely hanging on to dear life, the language of “rest”/”taper”/”prepared”-is ambiguous and different from coach to coach- situation to situation. I put zero stock on this “we’re gonna tear up NCAAs” threats – JUST DO IT! and I’ll believe you.
Well done Alexis. Thank your for sharing your insights.
Womans VOLS mighta won cause they beat UVA in dual and at invite!
I don’t think the Vols had it this year but out of curiosity what would the psych sheet scores have been if Brown had entered the 200 Freestyle where she was the top seed and Small entered the 200 Backstroke where she was top-8 and not the 200 Breastroke
@ladyvoldisser… do you nor understand that Vols had little if no chance of winning NCAAs. Though the team is great (right now), most of their swimmers were tapered for SECs to win that (even the very fast ones). UVA swimmers (al least the most elite) were not! But rest assured A&M will come back to the top!
I should have said… “though the team is on the RISE (right now)” The team has always been great!
The women VOLS will not yield to A+M or any other conference team. How do you know “most of their swimmers were tapered for SECs”?????? also UVA is 0-2 the last two outings…the record speaks! Why can’t people accept that our girls had a great shot of winning NCAAs?
We cant accept it because its not true!
The truth is what YOU say it is?? Pretty arrogant! Also are you telling me the UVA divers would have made a difference? Thinking of buying an NCAA Team Trophy and delivering it to the coaches and team for their probable win at NCAAs last year. Dont worry, I will also make a crayon written certificate for A+M awarding them a top 15 NCAA mythical finish.
And I think you keep forgettng that UVA didnt bring their divers to the midseason invite and Vols did which contributed to their victory over UVA.
Technically I believe swimswam did an article on that invite because so many people were bringing up who brought divers and who didn’t. Even with diving scores taken out at that meet Tennessee won by quite a bit.
With that being said uva has recruited well and will be stronger next year because of it
BAM! Momma
UVA would have won NCAA’s had they not been cancelled. Wasn’t Stanford seeded like 8th or something? Probably wouldn’t have done that bad, but honestly 3rd or 4th wouldn’t have been out of the question.
UVA will be great next year, but too bad for them Stanford brings in Ruck and Regan next year
Yeah even with the reinforcements UVA has coming in, I actually think they had a better shot this past year than the one coming up
Are we sure Ruck is returning?
Everyone I talk to says that the “I’m not sure yet” that she told us is genuine, not just avoiding telling the world. I think she’s waiting to make a decision until she has a full understanding of what her training would look like in both California and Toronto.
I don’t blame her.
Stanford woulda won