University of Tennessee Athletics

Tess Cieplucha made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing for Team Canada in the 400-meter individual medley. She won the gold medal in the event during the 2020 SEC Championships, helping lead the Lady Vols to their first SEC title in program history. She earned eight All-America honors and won two SEC gold medals during her time on Rocky Top.

CAREER HONORS

ALL-AMERICA CERTIFICATES (8)
2020 - 4
2019 - 2
2018 - 2

SEC MEDAL COUNT (4)
Gold: 2
2020: 400 IM, 800 free relay
Silver: 1
2019: 800 free relay
Bronze: 1
2018: 800 free relay

CAREER HONORS
2020 All-SEC (First Team)
2019 All-SEC (Second Team)
2017 CSCAA All-American (Honorable Mention)

SUMMER 2021 - TOKYO OLYMPICS

• Touched the wall in 4:44.54 in the 400-meter relay for Team Canada.

2019-20 - SENIOR

SEC MEET RECAP

• Member of the Lady Vols' first-ever SEC Championship team
• Won her first individual medal - a gold - in the 400 IM (4:01.88) also setting the program's school record time
• A part of UT's gold medal winning 800 free relay (6:53.27)
• Placed fourth in the 200 IM (1:53.89)
• Was fourth in the 200 butterfly (1:53.23)

DUAL MEET RECAP

• Lowered her own Tennessee record for the fastest time in the 400 IM (4:03.06)
• Her time in the 400 IM was the nation's fastest time at the end of the regular season
• Held the third-fastest time in the 200 IM in Lady Vol history (1:56.54)

2018-19 - JUNIOR

NCAA MEET RECAP

• Logged a ninth-place finish in the 400 IM (4:04.88) and a 13th-place time in the 200 IM (1:56.33)
• Also competed in the 800 free relay and 200 breast  

SEC MEET RECAP

• Finished seventh in the 200 IM (1:56.04) and 200 breast (2:09.36), and eighth in the 400 IM (4:08.78), 

DUAL MEET RECAP

• Tallied five individual wins in the regular season, three in the 400 individual medley, and one each in the 500 freestyle and 200 breaststroke
• Recorded an NCAA A Cut time and three NCAA B Cut times, including setting the Tennessee women's record for the fastest time in the 400 IM (4:03.81)
• Logged the seventh-fastest time in the 200 IM in Lady Vols history

2017-18 - SOPHOMORE

NCAA MEET RECAP

• Reached her first consolation final, placing 15th in the 400 IM (4:07.13)
• Earned first two All-America honors, first for the 400 IM and second as part of the fourth-place 800 freestyle relay team (6:52.12)
• Also finished 28th in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.37) and 63rd in the 5000 freestyle (4:48.94)

SEC MEET RECAP

• Participated in the third-place 800 yard free relay, good for her first SEC medal
• Reached her first career championship final and placed seventh in the 400 yard IM (4:08.29)
• Also finished 9th in the 200 breast (2:08.66) and 28th in the 500 freestyle (4:47.80)

DUAL MEET RECAP

• Competed in nine meets during the dual season, earned seven wins
• Picked up two victories at a breakout Tennessee Invitational in November, swimming 4:40.43 in the 500 free and 4:05.43 in the 400 IM. Both times rank second in program history

2016-17 - FRESHMAN

NCAA MEET RECAP

• Placed 42nd in the 400 IM (4:14.47) and 49th in the 200 backstroke (1:57.55)

SEC MEET RECAP

• In debut conference championship, won the C final to take 17th overall in the 400 IM in a season-best 4:10.37
• Placed 32nd in the 200 backstroke (1:59.14) and 38th in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.31)

DUAL MEET RECAP

• Competed in six collegiate meets -- winning two events -- plus the USA Winter Nationals during her first fall season. Her top times included: 1:49.99 in the 200 free (Auburn), 4:59.06 in the 500 free (USA Winter Nationals), 10:28.51 in the 1000 free (North Carolina), 17:03.97 in the 1650 free (NC State GAC Invitational), 1:57.95 in the 200 back (USA Winter Nationals, NCAA B-cut), 2:18.96 in the 200 breast (NC State GAC Invitational), 2:03.70 in the 200 fly (USA Winter Nationals), 2:01.86 in the 200 IM (Kentucky/Indiana), 4:12.32 in the 400 IM (USA Winter Nationals, NCAA B-cut).
• Earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after the Vols' season-opening win over North Carolina. She won the 400 IM in 4:17.12, her first college win.

PRIOR TO TENNESSEE

• Recorded 10 Canadian Olympic Trial qualifying times
• At the 2015 Canadian Pan Am Trials, Cieplucha won the 1500-meter free and was fourth in the IM
• Won three medals at Canadian Summer Nationals, including silver in the 800-meter free
• Represented Canada in 2014 at the FINA World Junior Open Water Championship in Hungary and Cozumel, Mexico

PERSONAL

• Cieplucha on Why Tennessee: "I chose Tennessee because I had an instant connection from the beginning of the recruiting process. I loved the atmosphere and energy I got from both the team and the coaching staff; the environment makes you want to work hard and successful. The support that is offered to the student-athletes is unbelievable and so are the facilities. I am so excited to be a Volunteer."
• Matt Kredich says: "Tessa is one of Canada's rising stars, so we feel fortunate to be able to bring her to the states. As a 400 IM'er she displays a desire for technical mastery as well as the work ethic and patience that it takes to excel in longer events. She does not have a weak stroke, and shares our teams relentless drive to improve."
• Recipient of Cindy & Rick Bernstein Academic Enrichment Fund