North Allegheny grad Jack Wright earns All-American honor at Virginia

North Allegheny alum Jack Wright earned an impressive honor as a freshman on the Virginia men’s swimming team.

Wright, 19, was selected as a Division I All-American in the 800-yard freestyle relay by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.

The relay achieved a NCAA A cut of 6 minutes, 16.68 seconds in the ACC championship meet in February. Because the NCAA championship was canceled due to the coronavirus, all relays achieving A standards made All-America.

“I would have liked to have earned it by performing at NCAAs with my teammates, but it still means a lot,” Wright said.

Cavaliers coach Todd DeSorbo said his biggest goals for Wright are to see him score individually in the NCAA championship and make the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Wright placed seventh in the 200 freestyle in the ACC championship, the only freshman in the meet to make the A final. He helped the Cavaliers to second place, their best finish since 2013.

He has qualified for next year’s Olympic Trials in the 200-meter freestyle and 400 freestyle.

His time in the 200-meter freestyle (1:50.78) ranked 133rd on USA Swimming’s 2019 18 & Under World 100 list of the country’s top 18-and-under male swimmers. He ranked 51st in the world.

While at home during the pandemic, he lifted weights and was an avid Peloton bike rider.

He has returned to Charlottesville and is swimming in a neighborhood pool.

“The toughest part about being stuck at home throughout all of this was that I didn’t have my teammates right by my side during every workout,” said Wright, the 2018 and ‘19 PIAA Class AAA champion in the 200-yard freestyle and 2019 WPIAL champion. “It’s been great to be back with everyone.

“We’re all counting down the days until these restrictions are lifted and we can swim in our home pool with our coaches.”

Two other North Allegheny graduates, Carnegie Mellon junior Max Gonzalez (800 freestyle relay) and Rochester senior Stephen Savchick (1-meter diving and 3-meter diving), were among Division III All-Americans.

All individuals and relays selected to the NCAA Division III championship were named.