Shannon Kennedy is an asset to the UNC Asheville Women’s Swim Team after just her freshman year. The Bulldogs have relied on her consistent breaststroke and sprint freestyle events during dual meets.
Background
Kennedy grew up in Winter Springs, Florida with her parents and younger brother. She started swimming at age eight and enjoyed a successful career with the Blue Dolfins swim team.
Kennedy swam for the Oviedo High School Lions, where her efforts were essential to the team. She was a four-time Florida State Championships qualifier and named 1st Team All-Conference and All-Central Florida Team. Most impressively, she holds the Oviedo Lions 100 breaststroke record. Kennedy finished her high school career with a 4.0 GPA in the honors program.
Freshman Year
Kennedy was a top point scorer in the breaststroke events from the start of the season. She scored 4th place point or better in the 100 breaststroke at four dual meets. She also scored 3rd place points or better in the 200 breaststroke at four dual meets. She was the top point scorer in the 200 breaststroke at three additional dual meets. At the Bulldogs mid season invitational, Kennedy raced lifetime best times in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. At the 2015 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Conference Championships, she swam a lifetime best time in the 50 freestyle. She was also the breaststroke leg of the freshman record setting 200 medley and 400 medley relays. Kennedy finished the season with CCSA All-Academic honors.
Sophomore Year
Kennedy had a standout season as a sophomore for the Bulldogs. She had multiple top third place finishes in the regular season for the breaststroke events. Kennedy was well prepared for a breakout performance at the 2016 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Championships. Her 50 freestyle was a personal best time at 24.77. She earned a personal best time in the 100 breaststroke in prelims and again in the B final, touching the wall at 1:05.96. Kennedy raced to two season best times in the 200 breaststroke as well. In the B final she raced to the wall at 2:25.28. Kennedy was also a member of the 200 freestyle relay team. The relay would race to a Varsity Record.
Volunteering/Community Service
Rocky’s Readers
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Manna Food Back Food Packaging Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Personal Best Times
100 Breaststroke 1:0596
200 Breaststroke 2:23.93
50 Freestyle 24.77
200 Freestyle Relay 1:35.46 (Varsity Record)
200 Medley Relay 1:49.78 (Freshman Record)
400 Medley 4:06.97 (Freshman Record)
