ATHLETE

KAREN CRISS

Omaha Marian (Class of 2006)

No other athlete in girls swimming has a gold-medal collection like Karen Criss. In her four years at Marian—while the Crusaders were winning state titles eight consecutive years—she went 8-for-8 in individual events, a standalone state record. She set state records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Adding in four gold medals in relays, including a state record in the 400 free relay in 2004, her career total reached 12. She swam for Louisville for two years, contributing a leg on the school-record 400 relay as a freshman, before transferring to Nebraska to complete her career as a backstroke and IM specialist.