Taylor Ward Season 2019-20
Honors
• 2022-23 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2021-22 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2020-21 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2019-20 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
Career-Best Times
50 Free: 24.44 at SEC Championships, 2.19.20
100 Free: 52.60 at SEC Championships, 2.20.21
200 Free: 1:52.26 at Florida Gulf Coast, 10.25.19
500 Free: 4:58.72 at Gamecock Invitational, 11.16.22
1,000 Free: 10:35.53 vs. Alabama, 10.5.19
50 Fly: 26.25 at Little Rock, 1.29.22
Commodore Record Watch
• Is ranked eighth in the 50 fly on the Commodores’ all-time performance list
As a Senior (2022-23)
• Met the NIC B Standard in the 500 free
• Ended up third on Vandy’s season performer list in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free
• Had season-low marks in the 100 (53.20) and 200 (1:53.30) free, also racing in the 500 free (5:05.25), at the SEC Championships (Feb. 14-18)
• Won the C Final of the 500 free with a career-low mark at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 16-18), also advancing to the C Final of the 200 free after recording a 1:54.40 time in the event
• Posted a season-best time in the 50 (25.39) free, competing in the 100 (54.83), 200 (1:58.04) and 500 (5:15.17) free also, in meet against Queens and Richmond (Nov. 4-5)
• Placed third in the 200 (1:57.75) and fifth in 500 (5:15.56) free in the Dores’ defeat of North Florida and Georgia Southern (Oct. 15)
• Finished fourth in the 500 free (5:14.72) while also competing in the 200 free (1:56.65) at Iowa (Jan. 21)
• Participated in the 100 (54.17) and 300 (3:02.12) free and the 50 fly (26.71) in final meet of the regular season against Arkansas and Little Rock (Jan. 28)
As a Junior (2021-22)
• Ranked among the top three on Vandy’s season performance list in the 200 and 500 free with her performance
• Recorded season-best times in the 100 (52.89) and 500 (5:01.06) free at the SEC Championships (Feb. 15-19)
• Posted fastest times in the 50 (24.70) and 200 (1:53.02) free — winning the B Final of the latter event — at the Miami Invitational (Nov. 18-20), finishing fourth in the A Final in the 500 free (5:02.06) as well
• Touched the wall fourth in the 200 (1:56.37) while finishing ninth in the 100 (54.64) free in Vandy’s win over Illinois (Oct. 30)
• Was fifth in the 500 (5:11.20) and sixth in the 200 free (1:57.03) in defeat of Tulane (Nov. 6)
• Placed eighth in the 200 free (1:57.13) in season-opening match-up with Arkansas and Drury (Oct. 9)
• Had top-10 results in the 200 (1:58.01) and 500 (5:10.30) free in victory over Florida Gulf Coast (Oct. 16) as well
As a Sophomore (2020-21)
• Competed in every meet
• Swam season-bests in the 100 and 200 (1:53.09) free at the SEC Championships (Feb. 17-20)
• Clocked a seventh-place finish in the 100 free (54.19) at Georgia Tech (Jan. 23)
• Raced to a 24.84 finish in the 50 free at the Miami Invitational (Nov. 18-20)
As a Freshman (2019-20)
• Competed in six regular season meets
• Placed second in the 500 free (5:06.69) in first collegiate meet against SEC opponent Alabama (Oct. 5)
• Earned a collegiate best time in the 500 free at Florida Gulf Coast (Oct. 25) to place second in the event
• Raced in two events at the SEC Championships (Feb. 18-22), posting a career-best time in the 50 free
The Ward File
• Major is human & organizational development
• Competed for Land O’ Lakes High School under head coach Robin Hilginberg
• Scholastic All-American
• All-American Automatic
• 2018 FHSAA Class 2A State Champion in 500 free
• 2016-17 All-Conference First Team
• 2015 SAC and Pasco Swimmer of the Year
• Holds school record in 200 free, 500 free and 100 back
• Helped the team to the district championship and a runner-up finish at the region meet every season from 2015-18
• School also claimed three straight conference titles from 2015-17
• Earned four varsity letters in swimming
• 2017 and 2018 Swim and Dive Captain
• Favorite swimmer is Katie Ledecky
• Favorite thing to do away from the pool is try new restaurants
• Favorite aspect of Nashville is the country music
• Chose to attend Vanderbilt because of its prestigious academics balanced with SEC athletics