UK S&D: Galyer Tabbed CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large First Team Honoree

Kentucky swimming standout Danielle Galyer was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America First Team, as announced by the organization on Thursday.
Galyer is the second CoSIDA Academic All-American under head coach Lars Jorgensen and is the first Wildcat to earn first-team honors in nearly two decades, following two-time honoree Beth Leake’s top team honors in 1997-98. She is also the third Kentucky student this year to be named to a CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, along with volleyball’s Morgan Bergren and football’s Landon Foster.
“I’m really proud of all Danielle’s well-deserved accomplishments,” remarked Jorgensen on one of the most decorated students in program history. “We are looking forward to her leading our team next year to new heights.”
Galyer certainly helped Kentucky gain attention on the national stage when she became UK’s first-ever national swimming champion. She became the 10th woman to ever swim below the 1:50.00 barrier in the 200-yard backstroke and posted the sixth-fastest time in US Open history during her championship swim, touching in at 1:49.71 after a thrilling back 50 against Virginia’s Courtney Bartholomew. She also earned All-America honorable mention in the 100 back and 800 free relay, breaking her own school record in the 100 back in 51.44 seconds and contributing to a UK record in the relay in 7:04.75.
A double major in psychology and political science with an unblemished 4.00 GPA, Galyer consistently racked up accolades during her junior campaign. During the NCAA Championships, Galyer was presented with the highest award that can be bestowed upon a student-athlete, the NCAA Elite 90. The Elite 90 is given to one student-athlete from each of the NCAA’s 90 championship sports, and the distinction is earned by being the student-athlete at the championship level with the highest cumulative grade point average.
She was also named the Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season in addition to being named an All-SEC Second Team and SEC Community Service Team honoree. Her recognition extended to the entire realm of UK Athletics, as Galyer was named Miss Wildcat and the Female Athlete of the Year while her championship swim was tabbed as the Female Performance of the Year at the 2016 CATSPYs.
Galyer has remained in intense training following the close of the 2016 collegiate season, along with the 25+ other Wildcats who have posted Olympic Trials cuts. She will contend for a spot on the US Olympic Team at the end of the month, with Trials running from June 26-July 3 in Omaha, Neb. Galyer’s specialty, the 200 long course meters backstroke, will begin prelims and semifinals on Friday, July 1, with the final on July 2.
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.
by Chloe Smith
University of Kentucky
Media Relations Assistant