Lindsay Looney Chosen for 2025 NCAA “Today’s Top 10” Award
Earlier this week, the NCAA announced the recipients of the 2024 Today’s Top 10 award, and former Arizona State University swimmer Lindsay Looney was among the honorees.
History of the Award
Since its inception in 1973 as the Top 5 awards, the NCAA has honored former student-athletes for their excellence in athletics and academics, as well as their contributions to the community. This award notably does not discriminate between divisions, sports, or genders, and has even had multiple winners in the same sport in the same year. The Top 10 awardees are chosen by the NCAA Honors Committee, which includes representatives from NCAA schools and conferences, and “nationally distinguished citizens.” Notable former recipients include football stars Peyton and Eli Manning, and swimming legends Jenny Thompson, Rowdy Gaines, and Gary Hall Sr.
Lindsay Looney’s Achievements
Looney is renowned for her proficiency in the butterfly events, particularly the 200-meter butterfly, where she placed in the top 8 at her junior and senior NCAA championships. She also competed internationally for Team USA, most notably in 2023 as a member of the World Championship team in the 200-meter butterfly, where she placed 8th. At the 2024 Olympic team trials, Looney placed 3rd in the 200-meter butterfly, just behind Regan Smith and Alex Shackell.
Academic Excellence
Beyond her athletic prowess, Looney was named the 2024 Elite 90 winner, awarded to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at every sport’s final championship site. She was also named the 2024 Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an award given to one athlete from each sport in the conference.
Community Involvement
Looney was an active member of the community, serving on ASU’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and participating in the EmpowHER club for female student-athletes at ASU. She also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House.
Future Endeavors
Looney graduated summa cum laude in 2024 with a master’s degree in Family and Human Development. She recently moved to Austin, where she is training with Bob Bowman’s pro group at the University of Texas.
