KATHLEEN CARROLL BASSO
Class of 1992

Swimming

Kathleen “Kasey” Carroll Basso was a top scholar-athlete at Concord High School, where she earned National Honor Society recognition and spent four years on the varsity swim team, specializing in the 500-yard freestyle. In recognition of her competitive swimming accomplishments, she was selected to the State of Delaware All Blue and Gold Team. She also participated in USS Swimming and was chosen to participate in the Junior Olympics.

Her coach, Kim Lessard, sums up what Kasey did for Washington College’s young program. “Kasey put Washington College swimming on the map. When she arrived there was only a woman's team and not one Washington swimmer ranked in the Conference or nationally. She set 15 school records and still holds the longest existing record in the 400 IM. She also went on to be the College’s first conference champion, first NCAA qualifier and first All-American in swimming.”

Kasey was a four-time All-Middle Atlantic Conference First Team selection (1988-1992) and three-time NCAA Division III All-American. She was named Most Valuable Swimmer each of her four years at Washington College. In 1992 she was Washington College’s Representative as NCAA Woman of the Year. Although she qualified for the NCAA tournaments in the 1650 freestyle, she also excelled in the ten other events. A three-time Academic All-American, was also active in campus leadership roles. At her graduation she received the Senior Athletic Award and the Eldridge Eliason Award for athletic and academic achievements.

Her post-graduate swimming competition reads like an encyclopedia of athletic events. Throughout her medical training and practice, she has continued to excel in all her athletic competitions, including the Hawaii Ironman World Championships, earning a national ranking in the USA Triathlon.

Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Kathleen Carroll Basso into the Washington College Athletic Hall of Fame on this fourth day of October, 2003.