Conklin swims the 100 and 200 Breaststroke; she is “a little stronger in the 200 than I am in the 100” but is always working hard to improve her skills.  She has the 4th fastest time in the 100 Breast and 4th fastest time in the 200 Breast in UC swimming history.  Because of this, she is ranked 4th and 5th in her events on UC's all-time fastest chart. 

As a local Cincinnatian, staying in town was an easy choice for Conklin, “The thing I picked UC for was that I loved the athletic program, I loved the facilities, I loved the student center.  I love everything that has to do with athletics”.  Conklin said she feels a sense of community among her fellow student athletes from all sports and across campus. 

Her stats could go on and on, but just to name a few: Stephanie swam on the UC record setting  4x50 Medley Relay and the 4x100 Medley Relay teams.  She is ranked among UC’s All-Time Top Ten in: 50 Breaststroke (4th), 100 Breaststroke (4th) and the 200 Breaststroke (5th).  When it comes to competition, Conklin has made a name for herself in the Big East Conference.  At the 2010 Big East Championship she came in 7th in the 100 Breast and 12th in the 200, surpassing her 2009 Big East Championship rankings.

Her swimming skills have led her to a surplus of accomplishments, but according to Conklin, “my biggest accomplishments as an athlete would be finaling at Big East my Freshman and Sophomore year, being a member of the Big East medley relay team, and qualifying to the US Senior Nationals”. 

Conklin began her swimming career when she swam for Blue Ash YMCA at the age of six and swam there until she graduated from high school.  Stephanie also swam for her high school team at Ursuline Academy.  “I have always had a competitive nature.  Since the time I started swimming I always wanted to lead the lane or race the people next to me in practice and touch the wall first”.

“I was about 13 when I began to really excel and rise above the rest of the group in swimming.  I started winning my area championships and setting league records around the age of 14”.  By the age of 16, she had won her first of four YMCA championships.  “The better I got at swimming the more passion I developed, the harder I worked and the more I wanted to win and be better”. 

Her biggest swimming dream would be to compete in the 2012 US Olympic Trials.  She has achieved her collegiate swim goals to final at Big East and be on the Big East relay team; her next goal, qualifying for NCAA's before she graduates. 

Academically, Conklin is a seven quarter Dean's List recipient, Cincinnatus Scholar, a member of the Legion of Excellence, CPAWS member, and Big East All-Academic Team Member.  She sets the bar high for student athletes who look up to her.  For those incoming freshman student athletes, Conklin says to stay on top of your work.  “Don’t think in college you will have extra time… you don’t”!  She advises to enjoy, but not get caught up too much in the social life.   

Conklin will graduate in June and hopes to work at a job downtown and continue to share her Cincinnati and Bearcat pride with everyone!  She will build her resume and work experience and then would like to branch off as a franchise owner or start her own small business, “I want to be my own boss someday”. 

Although her college swimming career will be ending this Spring, Conklin says she hopes to qualify for Olympic trials in summer of 2012, a few weeks before the summer Olympic games.  she will go to trials with the support of her family, friends and the entire Bearcat community.

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