Women’s History Month 2021: Noel Keefer ’78, Women’s Swimming & Diving
3/4/2021 10:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Throughout the month of March, Brown Athletics will celebrate Women's History Month through a series of profiles. Over the course of the month, the Bears will recognize women who have made an impact on the university community and beyond.
Noel Keefer '78, Women's Swimming & Diving
Noel Keefer '78 was just a freshman when she became Brown's first female athlete to earn an All-American designation. As a diver, Keefer was quick to make an impact and won the three-meter event at New Englands as a freshman, setting meet and pool records in the process. Persevering through injuries at Nationals that March, Keefer came from behind and performed one of the best double twisting one-and-a-half somersaults in the finals to pass three divers in the standings to finish 13th and gain All-American status. As a sophomore, Keefer lost only one dual meet. She was undefeated in her junior dual-meet season and set dual-meet records on both boards. Continuing to fight through a severe back injury over her career, Keefer kept pushing and qualified for Nationals as a junior. Diving coach Dave Sias said "many times Noel has been in a lot of discomfort, but she wouldn't stop practicing until I noticed her pain and made her stop." Keefer finished her Brown diving career in top form, winning 15 out of 18 dual-season events, and the one and three-meter events at the New Englands (setting records in both). She placed sixth and third on the one and three-meter boards, respectively, at the Division II Nationals and was again named All-American as well as All-Ivy. A Portuguese and Brazilian Studies concentrator, Keefer is the Associate Director, Medical Meetings at Syneos Health.
Noel Keefer '78, Women's Swimming & Diving
Noel Keefer '78 was just a freshman when she became Brown's first female athlete to earn an All-American designation. As a diver, Keefer was quick to make an impact and won the three-meter event at New Englands as a freshman, setting meet and pool records in the process. Persevering through injuries at Nationals that March, Keefer came from behind and performed one of the best double twisting one-and-a-half somersaults in the finals to pass three divers in the standings to finish 13th and gain All-American status. As a sophomore, Keefer lost only one dual meet. She was undefeated in her junior dual-meet season and set dual-meet records on both boards. Continuing to fight through a severe back injury over her career, Keefer kept pushing and qualified for Nationals as a junior. Diving coach Dave Sias said "many times Noel has been in a lot of discomfort, but she wouldn't stop practicing until I noticed her pain and made her stop." Keefer finished her Brown diving career in top form, winning 15 out of 18 dual-season events, and the one and three-meter events at the New Englands (setting records in both). She placed sixth and third on the one and three-meter boards, respectively, at the Division II Nationals and was again named All-American as well as All-Ivy. A Portuguese and Brazilian Studies concentrator, Keefer is the Associate Director, Medical Meetings at Syneos Health.
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, February 22
Sunday, February 22
Saturday, February 21
