Kelly McNichols made a definitive “splash” during her time at Naperville Central, both in and out of the water. A seven-time IHSA State Champion in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, McNichols still holds state records in the 200 free and 200 medley relay. The first female in IHSA swimming history to have won every event she competed in, McNichols was named the 2005 IHSA Senior Swimmer of the year. She was an 8-time individual Sectional champion in the 200 and 500 free, winning both events each year of her high school career, and earned multiple sectional championships on the medley, 200 free and 400 free relays. McNichols broke every school swimming record at Naperville Central except one and was the first IHSA female swimmer to break through the 50 second barrier in the 100 free. She was a 2004 FINA World Cup finalist and a 2003, 2004, and 2005 US Open finalist. In 2006, McNichols graduated with honors and earned a full ride scholarship to the University of Georgia, the four-time defending National Champions in swimming.As a University of Georgia bulldog, McNichols added to her championship count, earning an NCAA title in the 200 medley relay in 2009, as her team swam to a second place NCAA championship finish. In 2010, the UGA swim team took home the SEC title, with McNichols placing first in the 800 free relay. She is a 4-time UGA school record holder, a 7-time US Olympic Trials qualifier (in 2008 and 2012), and a US Open Champion and record holder in the 800 free relay (2009).A 10-time NCAA All-American, McNichols was also an NCAA Academic All-American and 4-time SEC Academic All-American, earning a place on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the University of Georgia Academic Honor Roll. Her leadership in and out of the pool prompted her honor as the Lewis Leadership Award nominee for the women’s swim team in 2009, the highest honor bestowed on a female student-athlete at UGA. Additionally, McNichols was one of four nominees chosen by the UGA athletic department for the NCAA Leadership Conference. She was sent to the SEC Student Athlete Advisory Committee Conference in 2008, where she worked with other leaders to develop new legislation for NCAA laws and regulations governing coaches, athletes and recruits, serving as UGA’s voice in all negotiations. A 5-year recipient of the Lisa Coole memorial scholarship and a Coca-Cola Community Service All-American award winner, McNichols’ commitment to service to her personal, academic, athletic and professional communities was appreciated, respected and celebrated by all fortunate enough to work with her. As passionate about her studies as she was her athletic career, McNichols served as senior copywriter for UGA’s most prestigious student-run advertising agency, Hooper, Sanford, Baldwin, Thompson (HSBT). She graduated with a BA in Journalism and Minor in English, working as a copywriter for Wells Fargo Insurance Services and for TeamWorks Media, a boutique PR agency in the sports marketing and entertainment industry in Chicago. She currently lives in Prague, the Czech Republic, teaching business English at several Czech businesses and serving as a copywriter for Lime and Tonic. While accomplished, McNichols finds some of her favorite memories and experiences in her high school career, counting her team’s first state championship when she was a junior in high school as one of her proudest achievements. She is especially thankful for the influence of her head coach, Jon Carlson, and assistant coach, Kristen Rakoski Liyeos.When it comes to addressing the academic, athletic and social experiences of current and future Redhawks, McNichols shared, “Hard work and determination gets you everywhere and everything. When you wholeheartedly believe you can accomplish something, then half the work has been completed; now all you must do is act and put your beliefs in motion.”McNichols’ impressive achievements, both in and out of the water, are evidence of the truth of that statement.