Former UGA swimmer Shannon Vreeland received an NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award, which recognizes student-athletes for their successes in academics and athletics and in the community. She was presented the award Jan. 17 at the Honors Celebration, which was part of the NCAA convention.
Vreeland was joined at the ceremony by family members as well as UGA President Jere W. Morehead; Greg McGarity, the J. Reid Parker director of athletics; head swimming and diving coach Jack Bauerle; and Carla Williams, executive associate athletic director and senior woman administrator.
Vreeland helped the women’s swim team win its second straight NCAA title-and fifth consecutive SEC championship-last season. A 19-time All-American, Vreeland swam on four NCAA-winning relays during her career; she also earned two individual and five relay titles during her career at the SECs. Vreeland helped the 800-yard freestyle relay squad set the American record, while the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays eclipsed the U.S. Open and NCAA marks.
Vreeland has enjoyed international success as well. She won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics and claimed a gold at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, three golds at the 2013 World Championships and a gold at the 2012 Short Course World Championships.
