Shara Stafford

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Topeka, Kan.
Prev School:
University of Florida

National/International Competition
Competed at 2010 U.S. Nationals, finishing 24th in the 200 free (2:03.32), 30th in the 100 free (57.78), 51st in the 100 fly (1:02.13) and 52nd in the 50 free (26.74)... Swam at the 2009 U.S. Open in Federal Way, Wash. during summer 2009...Swam a fourth-place race (55.45) in the 100 free, 14th in the 200 free (2:01.77), 18th (2:15.30) in the 200 back, 22nd in the 100 back (1:03.04) and 40th in the 50 free (26.68) in Washington...2008 Olympic Trials qualifier ... Member of the 2007 Junior National All-Star Team ... 2007 NCSA Junior Spring National 50 free champion.

At Florida
2010-11: Earned a team-high seven All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, including top-eight finishes in the 200 free (season-best 1:44.11) and 800 free relay... Made the B final in the 50 free (personal-best 22.16), 100 free (season-best 48.51), 200 (team-best 1:28.56) and 400 free relay and 400 medley relay at the NCAA Championships... Named to the 2011 SEC Academic Honor Roll... Notched a career bests in the 100 fly (53.13) and 200 IM (team-best 1:57.20) at the SEC Championships... Also part of the school record 800 free relay squad (6:59.10) as well as the team-best 400 free relay team (3:15.89) and 400 medley relay squad (3:34.02) at the SEC meet... Won the 200 free (1:48.76) and 200 medley relay (1:43.26) against FAU... Captured the 50 free (23.18) and 200 medley relay (1:42.32) in the win over Georgia Tech... Swam a personal-best 53.58 in the 100 back at Florida State... Finished second in the 200 free (1:47.03), second in the 800 free relay (7:11.99), third in the 100 back (54.72) and third in the 200 medley relay (1:41.36) at the Georgia Tech Invite... Won the 200 free (1:49.51) and took second in the 400 medley relay (3:46.77) and the 200 medley relay (1:43.82) at the Michigan and Stanford double-dual meet... Captured the 100 back (54.58) and 100 fly (55.42) and finished second in the 100 free (50.53) and 400 free relay (3:21.24) in the rivalry meet against Georgia... Won the 100 back (55.26) and placed second in the 100 fly (55.86) and 400 free relay (3:21.74)...Finished first in the 200 free relay (1:32.94) and 400 medley relay (3:44.52), while taking second in the 100 back (55.58) at the inaugural All-Florida.

2009-10: A 2010 CSCAA Scholar All-American that was also named a 2010 SEC Academic Honor Roll selection...Earned six All-America honors in the 50 and 100 free, 200, 400 and 800 free relay and the 400 medley relay, helping Florida to its first National Title since 1982...Was a member of the 200 free relay that won the national title, shattering a UF record in the process...Also broke Florida records in the 50 (since broken) and 100-yard free events at NCAAs, clocking a 22.16 in the 50 free and a 47.81 in the 100 free...Was additionally a member of the school-record breaking 400 free relay that placed third at NCAAs...Set career-best marks in all eight events she swam during the 2009-10 season...Picked up her second SEC Championship Title after helping the Gators win back-to-back titles in the 200 free relay at the 2010 meet in Athens, Ga., where Florida finished second overall in the team race... Took second individually in the 100 free, third in the 200 free and fourth in the 50 free at SECs...Shattered an 18-year-old school record in the 100 free with her time at SECs, but later re-set the record at NCAAs...Helped Florida to 10 dual meet wins, the ninth season the Gator have achieved 10 or more dual wins in head coach Gregg Troy's 12-year tenure at UF...Was named the National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week Oct. 14 for her performance in UF's first meet of the season versus Virginia, where she won both the 100 and 200 free events, and contributed on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.

2008-09: A 2009 CSCAA Scholar All-American that was also named a 2009 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll selection...A member of UF's SEC Championship squad that was also an NCAA qualifier, however, an injury held her out of the 2009 NCAA meet in College Station, Texas...Picked up All-SEC honors for her role in UF's championship in the 200-yard free relay that set a then Florida and SEC record (1:28.15)...Had the fastest 100 and 200 free races and the second-fastest 50 free her freshman year in 2008-09 for the Gators...Took fifth in the 50 free (22.40), sixth in the 200 free (1:45.28) and 100 free (48.53) at SECs...Was additionally a member of the second-place 400 medley relay (3:31.41) and third place 400 (3:14.37) and 800-yard free relay at the SEC Championships (7:02.44)...Swam in a total of 10 dual meets for the Gators her first year on campus...A highlight came at the 2009 College Conference Carnival on the Rutgers campus, where she swam an NCAA provisional mark in the 100 back (55.10)...Took second in both the 100 & 200 against Michigan and Stanford...Placed second in the 200 and third in the 100 on the road in the win over Auburn and returned home to take third in the 100 free against the Vols, a meet the Gators won at home.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Sarah and Terry Stafford... has two siblings, brother Thomas (29) and sister Leah (25)... majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.

FUN FACTS:

Why did you choose Mizzou?

I chose Mizzou because of the coaching and academic staff as well as the facilities.

What is your favorite thing about Mizzou so far?

I love the support everyone shows for one another.

Favorite food: Mexican

What's on your iPod: Country, Alternative, Hip-Hop, Christian

Favorite sports star: Misty May

Favorite movie: The Blind Side and The Lion King

Quote to live by: "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me" -Phillipians 4:13