In the NEWS
Blair’s Caroline Wilson Selected as One of Top 100 Swimmers In the quest to find the top swimmers in the world, a blueribbon panel of judges from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) sifted through nearly 3,000 athletes from the last century. From those 3,000 nominations, the panel winnowed the pool down to the top 100. Among the finalists, there are 87 swimmers and 13 divers. Twelve are members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and 59 are Olympians. The athletes hail from 13 countries, 28 states and one small town in scenic Warren County, New Jersey. Blair’s Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Financial Aid Caroline Wilson has been selected as one of the CSCAA’s top 100 swimmers of the last century. As a member of Williams College’s varsity swim team, Caroline rose to national prominence and was named NCAA Division III swimmer of the year in 2013. She is a 13-time Division III National Champion and a seven-time Division III NCAA national record holder. Swimming World Magazine describes her as “a multi-event threat, capturing individual NCAA Division III titles in eleven of twelve opportunities.” While retired from national competition now, Caroline continues to share her passion for swimming at Blair, where she coaches the varsity swim team. “I love that swimming continues to be a big part of my life, even though the context has changed tremendously,” she says. “I was fortunate to have wonderful, dedicated coaches throughout my swimming career, and I strive to offer that same dedication to the swimmers I coach.” Caroline hopes that Blair students will take away several lessons from her swimming career. “I hope boarding school students appreciate the balance these environments provide. Athletes can improve in their sport while also receiving a high-level education and making lifelong friends. The boarding school campus really allows students to ‘have it all,’ and I am so grateful for the opportunities I had as a boarding student growing up.” When they learn of the honor from the CSCAA, Caroline hopes that students understand that “Everyone leaves a legacy behind. I have been hearing from coaches and teammates I
had in college, high school, and even from youth programs growing up as a result of this award….It has made me realize that I had an impact on these communities. I know our students carry similar qualities throughout their day-to-day lives, but I hope they know that their impact at Blair will last far beyond their days on campus!” The Blair community takes great pride in its long tradition of athletic excellence, and we are delighted to congratulate Caroline on this tremendous achievement. ■
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