Eller Alumna Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year

Oct. 23, 2015
By Arizona Athletics
Margo Geer

University of Arizona swimming and diving alumna Margo Geer and eight other finalists recently were honored at the NCAA Woman of the Year banquet in Indianapolis. Kristin Day, a recent graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania who competed as a diver while majoring in chemistry, became the 25th recipient of the award since the program began in 1991.

Geer, who was named Pac-12 Woman of the Year in June, was honored as one of 30 NCAA Woman of the Year candidates and then named one of the finalists for the award. She was the UA's ninth finalist in the award's history.

The Woman of the Year award honors NCAA female student-athletes who exemplify excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. The finalists were selected from a pool of 480 student-athletes.

Geer, of Milford Center, Ohio, was a world-class swimmer at the UA, a winner of three national championships and a 27-time All-American. But it was work outside the pool that separated Geer, who exhausted her eligibility in 2014, from other candidates.

Throughout her time at the UA, Geer was active in the community, volunteering her time with numerous nonprofit institutions in the Tucson area, including Ben's Bells, Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA and Casa Maria soup kitchen.

Geer has also asserted herself as a leader, offering direction to those around her. From coordinating the Springfield YMCA alumni meet and representing her class at the Eller Sales Summit to being chosen as a team captain and now offering expertise as a volunteer assistant coach, she has been an influencer in and out of the pool.

Geer holds the school record in the 100 freestyle and is a part of UA record-holding relay teams in the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 400 medley.

She has competed for the U.S. national team in each of the last four years, including finishing as a finalist at the 2012 Olympic Trials. This year, she represented Team USA at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, and is currently training for the 2016 Olympic Trials.