University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2007
- Class:
- 1990
Michele Leary was a swimmer from 1986-90, who set five individual records during her UMass career. Four of those still stand today, holding marks in the 50-free (23.67), the 100-free (50.81), the 200-free (1:52.17), and the 100-fly (57.36).
Leary was a team Most Valuable Performer three times and was a six-time New England Champion, winning the 50, 100, and 200 frees in 1989 and 1990. She also was a part of six New England relay championships.
As a senior, Leary won the Kay Fromer Award that goes to the swimmer that scored the most points at the New England Championships over a four-year career. She accomplished all of this while coming back from a heart attack in the fall of 1989. She was awarded the ECAC Award of Valor in 1990 and won the Courageous Student-Athlete Giants Steps Award on National Student-Athlete Day.
Leary graduated with a degree in zoology from the University of Massachusetts in 1990. She was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the CLass of 2007.
