CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) - Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh was named the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division I Academic All-American of the Year, the CSC announced on Wednesday.

Walsh is the first ACC female student-athlete to win the distinction and just the second among all ACC student-athletes, joining NC State’s Todd Fuller (Men’s Basketball) in 1996.

"Congratulations to Gretchen Walsh on being awarded the prestigious CSC Division I Academic All-American of the Year,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “Her remarkable achievements in the pool, in the classroom and in the community, as well as her dedication to excellence have made her one of the most decorated student-athletes in ACC and NCAA swimming history.”

Walsh helped lead Virginia to its fifth straight national title at the 2025 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving National Championships held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Washington.

Walsh was named the 2025 CSCAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year for the second straight year after winning three individual titles at the NCAA Championships (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly) and setting three NCAA and American records. She was also a part of all four of the Cavaliers’ first-place relay teams, including the 200 medley relay team that set the meet, NCAA, American and US Open records.

Walsh earned the 36th Mary Garber Award as the ACC’s most outstanding female athlete, winning the distinction for the second straight year. She was also named the ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive season after capturing three individual titles and four relay championships at the 2025 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships. Her performance earned her the ACC Women’s Swimming Most Valuable Swimmer Award.

The Nashville, Tennessee, native closed out her collegiate career as a 25-time NCAA Champion, 23-time ACC Champion, 28-time All-ACC honoree and 27-time All-American.