Sophia Kosturos Season 2023-24
Student-Athlete Features
Vanderbilt Hustler — Sophia Kosturos: Swimming through it all
Career Honors
• 2020-21 CSCAA first-team Scholar All-American
• 2020-21 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Career-Best Times (collegiate)
50 free: 22.47 at Pac-12 Championships, 2.24.22
100 free: 48.89 at Pac-12 Championships, 2.26.22
100 back: 52.52 at Pac-12 Championships, 2.25.22
200 back: 1:55.45 at Pac-12 Championships, 2.29.20
100 fly: 52.65 at USC, 2.10.23
Commodore Record Watch
• Set program records in the 50 free and 100 back, also posting the school’s fastest time in the 50 back
• Stands fifth on Vanderbilt’s all-time performer list in the 100 fly
• Part of school-record-setting 200 free, and 200 and 400 medley relays
As a Graduate Student (2023-24)
• Posted a mark that met the CSCAA National Invitational Championship A Standard in the 50 back, also achieving the NIC B Standard in the 50 free, 100 back and 50 and 100 fly
• Recorded the Commodores’ top times of the season in the 50 free and 100 back, also ranking second in the 100 fly
• Was Vandy’s top finisher in prelims of the 50 free (22.90) and 100 back (54.06) at the SEC Championships (Feb. 20-24), also swimming the 100 fly (54.16)
• Won the B Final in the 50 free (23.47) while qualifying for the 100 fly (54.64) and 100 back (54.99) A Finals at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 15-17)
• Victorious in the 100 back (55.90), contributing legs to both the 200 medley and 400 free relays that finished first as well, in win over Tulane (Feb. 2) on Senior Day
• Touched the wall first in the 100 back (55.75) in Vandy’s defeat of Iowa (Oct. 28)
• Runner-up in the 50 free (23.75) at Arkansas (Jan. 20)
• Led the Commodores in the 50 free (23.37) and also swam the 100 fly (55.30) in tri-meet with Georgia and Florida State (Jan. 13)
• Was the team’s top finisher in the 100 back (55.90) in her debut for the Dores against Florida (Sept. 29)
As a Senior at UCLA (2022-23)
• Competed at NCAA Championships (March 15-18) as an alternate in the 200 medley and 400 medley relays after helping the Bruins set a school record in the first event
• Won the consolation final of the 100 back (52.88) at the Pac-12 Championships (Feb. 22-25), also advancing to the B Finals in the 100 free (49.26) and 100 fly (53.08)
• Placed first in the 100 back (53.29) and added a career-best time in the 100 fly at USC (Feb. 10)
• Also won the 100 back in dual meets against Utah (Oct. 28), Arizona (Nov. 4), Arizona State (Nov. 5), UC San Diego (Jan. 7) and Denver (Jan. 14)
As a Junior at UCLA (2021-22)
• Had the top time on the team in the 100 back, ranked second on the squad in the 50 and 100 free, and was third in the 100 fly
• Recorded career-best marks in the 50 and 100 free and 100 back at the Pac-12 Championships (Feb. 23-26) while scoring 48 points for the Bruins
• Finished eighth in the 100 back at that meet, making the B Final in the 50 and 100 free as well
• Posted top-10 results in the 100 free (49.39), 100 back (53.63), and 100 fly (53.54) at the Ohio State Invitational (Nov. 18-20)
• Won both the 100 fly (53.73) and 100 IM (55.15) at the UNLV Invitational (Dec. 17-19)
• Earned victories in the 50 free (23.62) in dual meet UCSB (Oct. 23) and the 100 back (55.25) against Arizona State (Nov. 5)
As a Sophomore at UCLA (2020-21)
• Ranked first on the team’s performer list in the 100, second-best time in the 100 free, and third in the 50 free; was also part of UCLA’s top squads in the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays
• Was the Bruins’ leadoff swimmer in the 400 free relay at the NCAA Championships (March 18-20)
• Finished first in the B Final of the 100 back (53.26) Pac-12 Championships (Feb. 24-27), moving on to the B Finals in the 50 (22.90) and 100 (49.11) free also
• Claimed the 100 back (54.39) in season-opening dual meet defeat of Fresno State (Jan. 15-16)
• Added individual victory in the 100 back (54.05) to help UCLA to first dual meet win over USC (Feb. 13) since 2007
As a Freshman at UCLA (2019-20)
• Had the top time among Bruins in the 100 and 200 back as well as the second-best mark in the 50 free, and was on UCLA’s best teams in the 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relays
• Advanced to the B Finals of the 50 free, and 100 and 200 back with season-low times in all three events at the Pac-12 Championships (Feb. 26-29)
• Picked up 10 individuals victories—five in the 100 back, three in the 200 back, one in the 50 back, and one in the 100 free— over the course of the season
• Won three races in her collegiate at san Diego (Sept. 13), the 100 free (52.09), and 50 (26.61) and 100 (56.81) back
• Swept the backstroke events in dual-meet victories over Utah (Oct. 11) and Arizona State (Nov. 2)
The Kosturos File
• Pursuing a master’s degree in medicine, health & society
• Attended Miramonte High and competed for the Crow Canyon Country Club team
• Selected a NISCA All-American four times and was a Scholastic All-American on three occasions
• A 2019 NISCA Academic All-American
• Earned All-California Interscholastic Federation and all-conference honors all four years at the prep level
• Was the state record holder in the 100 back while winning CIF-North Coast Section events
• Recorded eight top-10 results at the CIF state championships
• Left Miramonte High the school record holder in seven events
• Won the Winter Junior National Championships with club team in 2018
• Daughter of Katie and Tommy Kosturos
• Father, Tommy, played football and rugby at California, while her mother, Katie, ran track and cross country at Fresno State and Chico State
• Is the youngest of five children including siblings Sarah, Conner, Brianna, and Marina
• Is one of 63 cousins on her dad’s sideof the family
• Favorite athletes include Kerry Walsh Jennings and Missy Franklin
• Hobbies and interests include baking, wake-surfing, arts & crafts, traveling, spending time with her family, and walking dogs
Why Vanderbilt: “I chose Vanderbilt because of both the prestigious academic reputation and the immediate welcome that I felt from the athletics community. It is a perfect fit for me to succeed both academically and athletically, while simultaneously being able to experience a new and lively part of the country!”