Laura Kelso-Shiman has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of swimming.

Kelso elected to Hall of Fame
April 29, 2009
Boston, Mass.

Laura Kelso-Shiman, a native of Pine Bush, N.Y., has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of swimming. Kelso, Class of 1984, will be inducted along with six others in formal ceremonies at Northeastern’s Curry Student Center in Boston, Mass., on May 21.

Kelso was an early pioneer in the birth of women’s swimming and rose to be Northeastern’s first female All-America.

In her freshman year, she immediately established herself as one of the premier breaststrokers in New England. She set Husky records in the 50, 100, and 200-yard breaststroke events. At the New England Championship she won the 50 while setting a New England record and won points in both the 100 and 200.  The team posted a 9-1 record.

As a sophomore, Kelso broke all of her Northeastern records in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke events. She won the Greater Boston Collegiate and New England 50, and helped the 400 medley relay team to a New England title. Her 50-yard time of 32.28 seconds qualified her for the national championship, where she finished eighth, earning her All-America honors. Kelso had become the first female Husky to earn that distinction. The team continued its winning ways posting an 8-4 record.

Her junior year, she remained undefeated in the 50-yard breaststroke through 11 meets. She again won the GBC and New England 50, plus the New England 100 and placed second in the 200. Her contribution to the 400 medley relay earned it a New England title and set a Husky record. In the national championship, she placed third in the 50 for her second All-America certificate and 11th in the 100. The team had another successful season going 8-3.

Kelso’s senior season saw great changes.  The fledging program was now sound enough to merit a tougher schedule, and would be led by the NCAA. She defended her GBC and New England 50-yard titles and set new records for the 50, 31.29, and the 100, 1:10.52. However, she did not qualify for the NCAA Championship, because of a new rule stating you had to qualify in two events. Kelso only qualified in the 50. Coach Janet Swanson estimated that she would have placed third. With the new schedule, the team slipped to 3-9.

In her career, she won the New England 50 four times and the GBC three times.

Kelso currently resides in Brookline, Mass. where she is a physical therapist in the Brookline Public School system.

Joining Kelso in NU’s Hall of Fame Class of 2009 will be Dan Walsh (rowing), Dave Klemic (football and track), Dan McGillis (men’s hockey), L.J. McKanas (football), Donna-Lynn Rosa (women’s hockey), and Jennifer White-Richardson (field hockey).

Tickets to the induction ceremony can be purchased by calling George Makris at (617) 373-4821.