Carly Thatcher is nominated for the 2025 McWhorter Award.

In a season where athletic performance, academic excellence, and leadership intersected in the most profound way, Carly Thatcher emerged as a beacon of the SEC’s holistic definition of a student-athlete. The standout from the University of Missouri was officially announced as a finalist for the 2025 H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award—one of the highest academic honors presented by the Southeastern Conference.

Named after former SEC Commissioner H. Boyd McWhorter, the award recognizes the top male and female scholar-athletes in the conference. It not only honors academic achievement but also athletic excellence, leadership, and service—qualities Carly Thatcher exemplifies with unwavering consistency. As the accolades pile up and the spotlight grows brighter, Thatcher’s story is far more than a résumé—it’s a roadmap for what today’s collegiate athletes aspire to be.

Dominance in the Pool

A four-time SEC medalist and one of the most decorated swimmers in Missouri history, Thatcher’s consistency in the pool speaks volumes about her competitive drive. Specializing in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events, Thatcher broke multiple school records and continually ranked among the nation’s top performers in her discipline.

Her journey as a Tiger began with promise and quickly turned into dominance. As a freshman, she made waves with an SEC All-Freshman Team selection. Over her four-year career, Thatcher amassed All-SEC honors, multiple NCAA Championship appearances, and solidified her place in Mizzou swimming lore.

“She’s the anchor of our program,” Missouri head coach Andrew Grevers said. “What Carly does in training is phenomenal, but it’s the way she leads this team—through action, energy, and empathy—that makes her different.”

Grevers notes that her daily routine became a blueprint for the team: arrive early, stay late, encourage others, and never let success affect humility.

“She’s the first in the pool and the last to leave, but she also checks in on teammates after a hard practice or offers to tutor underclassmen,” he added. “Her impact can’t be measured just in times or medals.”

Academic Brilliance

While Thatcher’s competitive résumé is impressive on its own, what elevates her McWhorter candidacy to elite status is her academic record. A double major in Biochemistry and Spanish, she has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA through rigorous coursework and lab commitments.

In 2024, Thatcher was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team—an award reserved for the most academically distinguished athletes in the country. She also won the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for swimming and diving in back-to-back seasons, further showcasing her rare balance of academics and athletics.

“It’s about managing time with purpose,” Thatcher said. “I’m passionate about both science and competition, so I structure my day to make sure I’m giving 100% to both. There’s no secret—just a strong support system and a clear sense of ‘why.’”

Thatcher’s academic pursuits have not just been classroom-oriented. She conducted cancer research under the mentorship of Dr. Evelyn Nakamura at Mizzou’s School of Medicine, contributing to a project on cellular resistance to chemotherapy. The research, which is expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal later this year, could have implications for pediatric oncology treatment protocols.

“Carly’s intellect is matched by her tenacity,” Dr. Nakamura said. “She doesn’t just want to understand the mechanisms of disease—she wants to be part of the solution.”

Leading with Heart

Leadership comes naturally to Thatcher, but she’s quick to credit those around her. Serving as team captain during her junior and senior seasons, she transformed Missouri’s swimming program culture with an emphasis on accountability, inclusiveness, and gratitude.

“She’s someone who leads from the front but never makes it about herself,” teammate Ava Martinez said. “She’ll dive in to do the hard things—like morning workouts or long travel days—but also be the first to write a note to a teammate going through a tough time.”

That leadership also extends to the broader campus community. Thatcher is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has helped spearhead mental health awareness initiatives across the SEC. She recently organized a campaign called “Stronger Together,” focused on destigmatizing therapy and encouraging open conversations among athletes.

“Too often, we wear a mask that we’re always fine,” Thatcher said. “But we’re human too. I wanted to help create space for vulnerability without judgment.”

Giving Back

Service is more than a résumé item for Thatcher—it’s a calling. Over the past four years, she has volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club of Columbia, Special Olympics Missouri, and participated in numerous hospital outreach events with pediatric patients.

She also led a program called “Swim Safe, Columbia” to provide free swim lessons for underserved children in the community. The initiative started as a student-led service project and has grown into a semester-long outreach with over 200 local participants.

“When I was young, someone took the time to teach me how to swim,” Thatcher said. “That simple act opened doors for everything I’ve achieved since. I want to pay that forward, especially for kids who may not have the same opportunities.”

Her commitment to service was recognized with the SEC’s Brad Davis Community Service Award earlier this year.

A Future That Inspires

While Thatcher’s time as a collegiate swimmer is nearing its end, her impact is far from finished. Accepted into several prestigious MD/PhD programs, she has committed to Stanford University’s dual-degree program, where she hopes to become a physician-scientist in pediatric oncology.

“I want to treat children with cancer and also work in a lab trying to find the answers that don’t yet exist,” Thatcher said. “That dual path—of service and science—feels like my true calling.”

Her professors, coaches, and mentors unanimously agree: Thatcher is destined for greatness, not just because of her ambition, but because of the way she carries others with her.

“Carly is a force,” said Dr. Rebecca Langston, her academic advisor. “She’s brilliant, compassionate, and remarkably driven. But what stands out most is her humility. She’s a reminder that excellence and kindness aren’t mutually exclusive—they feed into each other.”

SEC’s Highest Academic Honor

The McWhorter Award, established in 1986, is the SEC’s most prestigious academic award. Each year, one male and one female student-athlete are selected from the conference’s 14 schools. Winners receive a $20,000 postgraduate scholarship, while all finalists receive a $10,000 scholarship.

For Thatcher, being named a finalist is already an honor she doesn’t take lightly.

“To be considered for something like this—it’s overwhelming,” she said. “I know how many incredible student-athletes there are in the SEC, so even being mentioned is humbling. But honestly, I see this as a reflection of everyone who’s poured into me—my coaches, professors, family, and teammates. This isn’t just my nomination—it’s ours.”

A Symbol of What’s Possible

In today’s hypercompetitive landscape of college athletics, stories like Carly Thatcher’s serve as vital reminders of what is possible when talent, grit, and character align.

She didn’t chase accolades for the sake of attention. She didn’t let setbacks or sleepless nights define her journey. Instead, she poured herself into everything she did—with excellence, with heart, and with purpose.

And whether or not her name is ultimately called as the 2025 McWhorter Award winner, Carly Thatcher has already become what that award represents: the absolute best of what it means to be a student-athlete.