Allison Schmitt named SEC Female Athlete of the Year

It's been a pretty good year for former Georgia swimmer Allison Schmitt, in spite of a disappointing result at the recent US Championships, that has been capped off with being honored as the SEC's Female Athlete of the Year. After redshirting in 2011-2012 to prepare for the Olympics, the Canton, Michigan native won 5 medals, including 3 gold. She is the first UGA swimmer to ever win an individual gold medal in swimming, having won the 200m freestyle, in addition to her silver in the 400m freestyle, and gold in two freestyle relays (400m and 800m).

She came home from London with work still to be done, setting a goal of knocking off Cal for a national title after the Golden Bears edged out a second place Georgia the two previous years. After leading the Lady Swim Dawgs to another SEC crown under long time head coach Jack Bauerle, the senior did just that winning NCAA titles individually, in her relays, and as a team (the 5th NCAA title for Georgia).

Schmitt is the 5th UGA female athlete to win this award, along with Vicki Goetze (1992, golf), Saudia Roundtree (1996, basketball), Kristy Kowal (2000, swimming), and Courtney Kupets (2009, gymnastics).