When head swimming coach Lars Jorgensen was recruiting 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar Asia Seidt to the University of Kentucky he saw someone who could make an impact on the program. In her three years swimming for the Wildcats, Seidt’s athletic impact has been decisive — two-time All-SEC First Team, two-time SEC champion in the 200-meter backstroke and five-time First Team All-American. She has also maintained a 4.0 average and donated her time to community service.
“In the ideal version, she’d be your definition of a student-athlete,” says Jorgensen. “She’s a pretty amazing young lady.”
Seidt, who is planning to become a physical therapist, selected the demanding major of kinesiology. In February, she was chosen as the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She remains modest about her ability to tackle daunting challenges, thanking the academic support staff and the positive environment of Kentucky’s athletic department.
“We have tutors and a CATS (Center for Academic & Tutorial Services) lab where we can go and study,” says Seidt. “Our coaches and the leaders on our team push academics. As a swim team altogether we want to get the highest GPA.”
Seidt’s academic adviser, Josh Ray, says she’s underplaying her own talent and focus. His career involves working with amazing student-athletes, but Seidt stands out.
“You’ve got this very small segment of that population who are above and beyond anything you would really expect, especially from someone with the time commitment of a student-athlete nowadays,” says Ray. “Asia is at the top of the heap of that small population.
“When you get student-athletes like that, you don’t have to worry about them doing the right thing.”
