WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. -- Senior
Sophia Verkleeren '25 has once again etched her name into the record books, earning First Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Communicators (CSC) for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes the top student-athletes in the country who excel not only in their sport but also in the classroom and across their campus communities.
Verkleeren, a Chemistry major with a remarkable 3.94 GPA, continues to set the gold standard for what it means to be a true student-athlete. As the 2024–2025 Team Captain of the Williams Women's Swim and Dive Team, she balanced her rigorous academic schedule with an elite level of athletic achievement. Last year, she did it all while serving as a Junior Advisor (JA) to the Class of '27, playing a vital role in fostering the Williams residential community.
Her swimming resume is nothing short of legendary. A four-time NCAA Champion and a 20-time NCAA All-American, Verkleeren has also claimed 20 NESCAC titles—split evenly between individual and relay events. This season, she entered NESCAC s as the top seed in two events and came away with five NESCAC titles, including wins in the 200 Butterfly, 100 Butterfly, and 200 IM. She also anchored two winning relay teams: the 400 Medley and 800 Freestyle. In the process, she set NESCAC Meet Records in both the 200 Butterfly and 200 IM.
The honors keep stacking up. Verkleeren is now a three-time NESCAC Swimmer of the Year—becoming the first athlete in conference history to win the award three years in a row—and in 2025, she was named the NESCAC Career High Point Winner. A three-time College Swimming Coaches Association (CSCAA) Scholar All-American, she was also a Honda Cup Finalist in 2023 and earned CSC Academic All-District honors the same year.
Perhaps most notably, Verkleeren was named the 2023 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, a reflection of her sheer dominance and consistency at the national level. During that standout season, she captured NCAA titles in the 200 IM and 200 Backstroke while leading the Ephs to multiple relay victories and records.
To earn First Team Academic All-America status, an athlete must maintain at least a 3.5 GPA and demonstrate involvement beyond athletics. Verkleeren, with her academic achievements, community leadership, and unmatched competitive success, exceeds those requirements by every measure.
With graduation on the horizon,
Sophia Verkleeren leaves behind a legacy that will ripple through the Williams swimming program—and across Division III athletics—for years to come.
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