Purcellville, Va. — Loudoun Valley High School junior Sean Conway has made an early verbal commitment to continue his swimming career at the University of Virginia beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.
“It feels a little strange, but it’s great to have committed this early. It frees up time and energy during the night, not having to worry about calls or upcoming visits,” the 6-foot-6 Conway said. “There was a lot of stress involved in the recruiting process, so having that finished really helps me out as well. The extra time I have still goes into training and catching up on all my work.”
[adrotate banner=”18″]That extra time will help Conway prepare for his final season at Loudoun Valley before he joins the Virginia team in the fall of 2019.
Conway has made a name for himself in Loudoun, twice being named the All-LoCo Swimmer of the Year. In 2017-2018, Conway turned in top 10 LoCoTopTimes in all eight individual events, including the fastest time in the 200-yard IM, 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
“Swimming for Valley has been awesome from the beginning. The whole team has great spirit, and the teammates and friends that come out of the program always support and help each other as much as possible,” Conway said. “It’s definitely a great place to be as a newcomer to high school, or even the sport of swimming. The coaches and team are always sure to provide a welcoming and energetic atmosphere, as they did to me when I was a brand-new freshman on the team.”
In less than two years, Conway will be a freshman yet again as he joins second-year head coach Todd DeSorbo and the Division I Cavaliers. In 2017-2018, Virginia placed third at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and finished the season ranked No. 23 in the country.
“UVA already has an amazing swim family full of competition, enthusiasm from both the coaches and teammates, and leadership, as shown from their great performances throughout the year,” said Conway, who will most likely swim backstroke and IMs for the Cavaliers. “If anything, I hope to add to those qualities, and establish myself as someone who is fully capable of keeping up with the energy and competitiveness on deck every day.”
The swim team’s energy and competitiveness are two of the many reasons Conway was attracted to the University of Virginia.
“It really came down to just where I felt I would belong from a team and overall campus aspect,” Conway said. “When I first visited the grounds and got a feel for the team and staff, it really felt like a place I could develop and thrive as a student and athlete.”
While Conway’s commitment to UVA is a recent development, his interest in the Cavaliers’ program dates back to his childhood.
“I have been familiar with UVA’s awesome swimming program since I was little,” Conway said. “From being friends with many of their swimmers and alumni alike to attending the yearly camps when I was still an age grouper, UVA has stayed in my mind as a program I’d love to be a part of.”