University of Minnesota Athletics

2021-22 Women's Swimming & Diving Roster

McCarthy Kelli swimming in the Women 200 Yard IM. 

The University of Minnesota Swimming team competing in the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on the University of Wisconsin Campus.   Photo Steve Apps
Photo by: Steve Apps
Kelli McCarthy
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
McCarthy Kelli competing in the Women 400 Yard IM. 
The University of Minnesota Swimming team competing in the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 at the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on the University of Wisconsin Campus.   Photo Steve Apps
Photo by: Steve Apps
McCarthy Kelli competing in the Women 400 Yard IM. 
The University of Minnesota Swimming team competing in the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 at the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on the University of Wisconsin Campus.   Photo Steve Apps
Photo by: Steve Apps
McCarthy Kelli
Kelli McCarthy

Kelli McCarthy

  • Class:
    Senior
  • High School:
    Edina HS
  • Hometown:
    Edina, Minn.
PRONUNCIATION
Career Honors and Awards
  • Winner of Jean K. Freeman Award (Female student-athlete who represents unyielding motivation and a committed spirit that is complimented with a deep-seeded dedication to personal growth) and Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at 2022 team banquet
  • Named Most Improved and Hardest Worker at 2021 team banquet
  • 2022 Team Captain
  • 3x CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American (2020-22)
  • 2021 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
  • 3x Academic All-Big Ten (2020-22)
2021-22 Senior Season: Winner of Jean K. Freeman Award (Female student-athlete who represents unyielding motivation and a committed spirit that is complimented with a deep-seeded dedication to personal growth) and Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet · team captain · placed 12th in the 400 IM finals (4:14.35), 15th in the 200 breast finals (2:13.51) and 21st in the 200 IM finals (1:59.89) at the Big Ten Championships • finished third in the 400 IM (4:18.33) and seventh in the 200 free (1:49.55) in a tri-dual against Northwestern and Iowa; also helped an 800 free relay to third (7:15.84) • placed sixth in the 200 free (1:50.55), eighth in the 500 free (4:59.05) and ninth in the 200 IM (2:04.56) in a tri-dual versus Wisconsin and Michigan • at the Minnesota Invite, claimed 17th in the 400 IM finals (4:19.36), 27th in the 200 IM finals (2:01.30), 32nd in the 200 fly prelims (2:07.60) and 40th in the 500 free prelims (4:57.36); also helped the 800 free relay to an 11th-place finish (7:17.28) and the 400 free relay to 15th (3:23.52) · finished fourth in the 400 free relay (3:27.30) and sixth in the 200 free (1:52.61) and 500 free (5:04.75) against Wisconsin · touched second in the 200 fly (2:10.71) versus St. Thomas · made season debut against Nebraska by placing fourth in the 200 free (1:53.14) • CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American • Academic All-Big Ten honoree

2020-21 Junior Season: Finished eighth in the 400 IM (4:16.43), 28th in the 200 IM (2:01.31) and 31st in the 1650 free (16:58.02) at the 2021 Big Ten Championships · touched third in the 400 IM (4:21.04) and sixth in the 200 free (1:50.90) at the Iowa/Nebraska tri-dual · placed seventh in the 200 free (1:50.53) at the Wisconsin/Purdue tri-dual · Big Ten Distinguished Scholar · Academic All-Big Ten · named “Most Improved” and “Hardest Worker” by team at the end-of-season team award banquet.

2019-20 Sophomore Season: Earned a spot in finals and placed 18th overall in the 400 IM (4:12.92) with an NCAA ‘B’’ cut time at the Big Ten Championships · also finished 27th in the 500 free (4:48.73) at the Big Ten Championships · finished fifth in the 400 IM (4:25.32) and helped Minnesota to a first place finish in the 800 free relay (7:21.39) at the Big Ten tri-dual versus Purdue and Northwestern · touched fourth in the 500 free (4:59.72) and fifth in the 200 free (1:51.68) against USC · notched second place finishes in the 200 free (1:53.23) and the 400 IM (4:25.20) versus Hawaii · placed 15th in the 400 IM finals (4:19.46) at the Minnesota Invite · earned a fifth place finish in the 400 IM (4:26.61) versus Wisconsin · placed fifth in the 500 free (5:08.45) against Iowa · finished sixth in the 100 free (10:28.71) and seventh in the 400 IM (4:28.90) at the Florida State dual · touched seventh in the 200 free (1:54.92) and 500 free (5:04.75) versus Florida · Academic All-Big Ten · Second Team CSCAA Scholar All-American.

2018-19 Freshman Season: Placed fourth in the 400 IM (4:26.76) against Purdue and Northwestern. • Took fifth in both the 200 free (1:55.03) and the 500 free (5:06.27) at the Hawaii Dual. • At the Iowa Invitational, finished fifth in the 400 IM (4:22.33) and helped both the 800 free relay (7:25.42) and 400 free relay (3:23.99) to a fourth place finish. • Took third in the 1000 free (10:41.51), fifth in the 500 free (5:06.99), and fourth in the 400 IM (4:30.69) against Iowa and South Dakota.

High School: 2018 Graduate of Edina High School • Coached by Jeff Mace, Traci Bergo, Mellanie Pusateri, Greg Pokorski, and Jeff Rodriguez • Five-time All-Conference award winner • Four-time All-State award winner • NISCA All-American • 2017 and 2018 High School State Champions • Second place in 500-yard freestyle at Speedo Championship Series in Iowa (4:51.25) • 2016 Minnesota Girls' Class AA State Runner-Up in 200 free (1:48.49) • Back-to-back Minnesota Girls' Class AA 500 free State Champion in 2015 (4:56.91) and 2016 (4:52.03). • Minnesota Coaches Association Class AA Swimmer of the Year • Star Tribune All-Metro Swimmer of the Year • USA Swimming Scholastic All-America award winner • High School Scholar Athlete Award Winner

Personal: Daughter of Julie and Pete McCarthy • Has three younger siblings; Tommy, Katie, and Libby • Planned Business major.
Cub Plays of the Year
Monday, July 14
2024-25 Gopher Sports Year in Review
Wednesday, July 09
Kostas Zaltos
Wednesday, May 14
Gophers Spend a Day at CLA
Wednesday, March 26