Kara Lynn Joyce - College Career

College Career

Joyce attended the University of Georgia (UGA), where she swam for coach Jack Bauerle's Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 2004 to 2007. During her freshman year, Joyce won five individual NCAA championships including two individual titles (50-meter and 100-meter freestyle), helping Georgia to its third consecutive national runner-up finish. As a sophomore, she along with junior Mary DeScenza led Georgia to its first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in four years by defending her individual titles in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle, as well as adding a fourth place in the 200-yard freestyle. Joyce was also a key swimmer on four of Georgia's five NCAA Championship relays. En route to their victory, the Bulldogs became the first team in NCAA swimming history to win all five relays.

During the 2006 NCAA Championships, contested at UGA's Gabrielsen Natatorium, Joyce led the Bulldogs to a second place finish with five NCAA titles and Swimmer of the Year honors. On the first day of the meet, she broke the American record in the 50-yard freestyle (short course), previously held by former Bulldog Maritza Correia. Joyce defended her 100-yard freestyle title and added to that with a win in the 200-yard freestyle. By winning all three, she became the first swimmer in the 25-year history of the Women's NCAA Championships to win the 50-yard, 100-yard, and 200-yard freestyle events. She earned All-American honors three consecutive years.