ATLANTA – Kentucky’s Danielle Galyer was presented with the Elite 90 award prior to Friday’s finals session at the 2016 Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. The award is a testament to Galyer’s dedication to both academics and athletics, as it is presented annually to one student-athlete from each of the NCAA’s 90 championship sports.
The award is the first of its kind awarded to a member of the Kentucky swimming and diving program, and it is the fourth consecutive Elite 90 (previously Elite 89) award for any Kentucky team. Previous UK winners include Chelsea Oswald (track and field, 2012-13), Sam Malone (men’s basketball, 2013-14) and Aldila Sutjiadi (women’s tennis, 2014-15).
Galyer boasts a flawless 4.0 GPA double majoring in psychology and political science.
“This one is great; it’s not really an award you think you’re going to get,” commented Galyer. “I think our university and CATS support is just great. Without Bob Bradley and Jason Schlafer helping us along the way and our tutors, I definitely wouldn’t be as successful as I am both in and out of the pool.”
Head coach Lars Jorgensen beamed about his junior standout, saying, “She’s a true testament to the definition of a student-athlete in terms of having a 4.0 GPA and being on the US National Team in swimming. She’s everything that you would want in a student-athlete. She’s a leader, she represents the athletic department at functions, she’s a leader on the team, and a great person. I couldn’t be more proud of Danielle.”
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
The award is one of many that Galyer has accrued in her illustrious career as a Wildcat. Last season, she was honored as the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and she was also named to the SEC Community Service Team this season. A member of the USA National Team, Galyer is the Kentucky record holder in the 100 and 200 back, 200 IM, and has swum leg’s on UK’s record 400 medley and 800 free relays.
Galyer is currently competing in her third consecutive NCAA Championships, and has already earned All-America honorable mention in the 800 free relay after swimming the second leg of UK’s record-breaking lineup. She will compete in tonight’s B final of the 100 back, in which she broke her own UK record in 51.62 seconds, and also led off on the school record-tying 400 medley relay yesterday. Tomorrow, Galyer will compete in the 200 back with her sights set on reprising as a First Team All-America, as the junior finished fourth in the nation at last year’s national championships.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
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.
