Johnson Ybarra Named to 2016 SEC Women’s Legends Class

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday that former Kentucky standout diver Tina Johnson Ybarra has been named to the 2016 Class of Women’s Legends.  The class showcases former student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all 14 SEC member institutions.

Johnson Ybarra was inducted into the UK Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2009.  While at Kentucky, she was an eight-time All-America diver, winning the honor three times in both 3-meter and platform and twice in 1-meter.  Johnson Ybarra was the 1996 SEC 1-meter dive champion and the NCAA runner-up in the platform, and was named the SEC Diver of the Year by the league coaches in 1995 and 1996.  She was also an Academic All-American and a three-time member of the SEC All-Academic Team, leaving UK as the record holder in all three diving disciplines.  In 1996, Johnson Ybarra was honored as the NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Kentucky.

The class will be honored at the 2016 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, March 2-6 in Jacksonville, Fla.  Each legend will be honored during half-time of their teams first game of the tournament, all 14 individuals will also be honored as a group, as well as participate in an autograph session during the tournament.  Complimentary posters of the Legends will be available at the session.  

Honorees:

Alabama – Sarah Patterson, Gymnastics (Coach), 1979-2014

Arkansas – Veronica Campbell Brown, Track & Field, 2004

Auburn – Kim Evans, Women’s Golf (Coach), 1994-2015

Florida – Dana Smith DesJarlais, Basketball, 1994-98

Georgia – Andy Landers, Basketball (Coach), 1979-2015

Kentucky – Tina Johnson Ybarra, Swimming & Diving, 1994-96

LSU – Sylvia Fowles, Basketball, 2004-08

Ole Miss – Paloma Collantes-Hansen, Tennis, 1991-94

Mississippi State – Chelsea Bramlett-Malone, Softball, 2007-10

Missouri – Lorraine Ferret, Basketball, 1979-83

South Carolina – Denis Nanney-White, Basketball, 1975-77

Tennessee – Shyra Ely-Gash, Basketball, 2001-05

Texas A&M – Toccara Williams, Basketball, 200-04

Vanderbilt – Ashley Earley, Basketball, 2001-05

For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter, on Facebook at Facebook.com/UKSwimDive, and on the web at ukathletics.com.