2021-22 / AS A SENIOR
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (4.0 GPA)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• One of four Boilers to record a 4.0 GPA during the 2021-22 academic year
• At the Purdue Invitational, recorded seasons bests in the 50 free (24.00) and 100 free (53.08)
• Did not compete for the rest of the season due to injury
2020-21 / AS A JUNIOR
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (4.0 GPA)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed primarily in the 100 backstroke
• Posted season-best times in the 100 back (54.49) and 100 free (50.51) at the intrasquad time trials in November
• Raced in the 100 back (56.02) and on both medley relays at the Big Ten Championships
• Victorious in the 100 back and swam on both relay winners in the dual meet victory vs. Illinois
• Won the 75 back and contributed to the victorious 300 free relay team at the season-opening intrasquad
• Also won the 100 back and was part of both victorious medley relay teams at the intrasquad time trials
• Continues to rank among the Purdue all-time leaders in both the 100 (54.11, 5th) and 200 back (1:59.76, 13th)
2019-20 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed primarily in the backstroke events and 50 freestyle
• Posted career-best times in the 100 back (54.11) as well as the 50 (23.45) and 100 free (50.80) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved into fifth place in program history in the 100 back with her leadoff leg split on the 400 medley relay at Big Tens
• Also scored individually in the C final of the 100 back at Big Tens with a time of 54.27
• Helped the 400 medley relay team register the fourth-fastest time in team history
• At the Purdue Invitational, won the C final of the 100 back and was also a C finalist in the 200 back via a season-best time of 2:03.58
• Swam the leadoff leg on Purdue’s top-scoring 400 medley relay team at the Purdue Invite as well
• Advanced to the quarterfinal race of the 50 back ladder tournament at the FIU Sprint Invitational
• Runner-up in the 100 back as part of 1-2-3 finish for Purdue in the dual meet win vs. Michigan State
2018-19 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Competed primarily in the backstroke events and 50 freestyle
• Eclipsed the Purdue freshman record in the 100 back at both the IU Invitational and Boiler-Make-It NCAA last chance meet
• Those 100 back times were 54.54 and 54.41, moving into fifth place in program history with her career best
• Registered season bests in the 50 free (23.57) and 200 back (1:59.76) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved into 12th place in team history in the 200 back
• Won the C final of the 100 back at the IU Invitational
• Victorious in the 100 back at the Indiana Intercollegiates
• Runner-up behind teammate Jackie Smailis to give Purdue a 1-2 finish in the 100 back in the Senior Day dual vs. Indiana
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year Indiana state qualifier for coaches Eric Meyer, Scott Kubly and Craig Howe at Zionsville Community High School in suburban Indianapolis
• State champion in the 100 back as a senior while also placing third in the 50 free
• Four-year first-team all-state honoree
• Four-year NISCA All-American and Scholastic All-American
• Placed second in the 50 free and third in the 100 back at state as a junior
• Also a state finalist as an upperclassman while racing in the 100 back and 200 IM
• Two-time team MVP as an upperclassman also won a freshman award her first season
• Three-year Junior Nationals qualifier annually finished among the top 24 in a backstroke event
• Senior Nationals qualifier in the 100 back as a junior
• Helped ZHS win four straight sectional titles
PERSONAL
• Major: Health Science Pre-Professional
• Full name is Tessa Lee Wrightson
• Born in London, England
• Parents are Wade and Michelle Wrightson
• Family also includes younger brother Drew
• Father played football and mother was a cheerleader at St. Cloud State
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (4.0 GPA)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• One of four Boilers to record a 4.0 GPA during the 2021-22 academic year
• At the Purdue Invitational, recorded seasons bests in the 50 free (24.00) and 100 free (53.08)
• Did not compete for the rest of the season due to injury
2020-21 / AS A JUNIOR
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (4.0 GPA)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed primarily in the 100 backstroke
• Posted season-best times in the 100 back (54.49) and 100 free (50.51) at the intrasquad time trials in November
• Raced in the 100 back (56.02) and on both medley relays at the Big Ten Championships
• Victorious in the 100 back and swam on both relay winners in the dual meet victory vs. Illinois
• Won the 75 back and contributed to the victorious 300 free relay team at the season-opening intrasquad
• Also won the 100 back and was part of both victorious medley relay teams at the intrasquad time trials
• Continues to rank among the Purdue all-time leaders in both the 100 (54.11, 5th) and 200 back (1:59.76, 13th)
2019-20 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed primarily in the backstroke events and 50 freestyle
• Posted career-best times in the 100 back (54.11) as well as the 50 (23.45) and 100 free (50.80) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved into fifth place in program history in the 100 back with her leadoff leg split on the 400 medley relay at Big Tens
• Also scored individually in the C final of the 100 back at Big Tens with a time of 54.27
• Helped the 400 medley relay team register the fourth-fastest time in team history
• At the Purdue Invitational, won the C final of the 100 back and was also a C finalist in the 200 back via a season-best time of 2:03.58
• Swam the leadoff leg on Purdue’s top-scoring 400 medley relay team at the Purdue Invite as well
• Advanced to the quarterfinal race of the 50 back ladder tournament at the FIU Sprint Invitational
• Runner-up in the 100 back as part of 1-2-3 finish for Purdue in the dual meet win vs. Michigan State
2018-19 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Competed primarily in the backstroke events and 50 freestyle
• Eclipsed the Purdue freshman record in the 100 back at both the IU Invitational and Boiler-Make-It NCAA last chance meet
• Those 100 back times were 54.54 and 54.41, moving into fifth place in program history with her career best
• Registered season bests in the 50 free (23.57) and 200 back (1:59.76) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved into 12th place in team history in the 200 back
• Won the C final of the 100 back at the IU Invitational
• Victorious in the 100 back at the Indiana Intercollegiates
• Runner-up behind teammate Jackie Smailis to give Purdue a 1-2 finish in the 100 back in the Senior Day dual vs. Indiana
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year Indiana state qualifier for coaches Eric Meyer, Scott Kubly and Craig Howe at Zionsville Community High School in suburban Indianapolis
• State champion in the 100 back as a senior while also placing third in the 50 free
• Four-year first-team all-state honoree
• Four-year NISCA All-American and Scholastic All-American
• Placed second in the 50 free and third in the 100 back at state as a junior
• Also a state finalist as an upperclassman while racing in the 100 back and 200 IM
• Two-time team MVP as an upperclassman also won a freshman award her first season
• Three-year Junior Nationals qualifier annually finished among the top 24 in a backstroke event
• Senior Nationals qualifier in the 100 back as a junior
• Helped ZHS win four straight sectional titles
PERSONAL
• Major: Health Science Pre-Professional
• Full name is Tessa Lee Wrightson
• Born in London, England
• Parents are Wade and Michelle Wrightson
• Family also includes younger brother Drew
• Father played football and mother was a cheerleader at St. Cloud State