Honors & Awards
- Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013, 2014)
- CSCAA Scholastic All-American (HM, 2012)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2012, 2013, 2014)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2011, 2012, 2013; Spring 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall 2010; Spring 2011)
2013-14 (Senior)
Bailey Pons finished out a successful Husker career with a stellar senior season. She amassed 14 top-five finishes, along with four victories, to bring her career total of top-five finishes to 71. At her final meet as a Husker, Pons turned in two top-20 performances at the 2014 Big Ten Championships. She captured 17th in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:27.53, while taking 19th in the 500-yard freestyle in a career-best 4:47.34. Pons captured victories in the 500-yard freestyle (South Dakota State and Northern Iowa), the 1,000-yard freestyle (Iowa State), and the 1,650-yard freestyle (Illinois).
Pons also wrapped up a brilliant academic career in 2014. The senior earned academic All-Big Ten honors and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar for the third consecutive year. She also earned her bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2014 after completing a dual major in English and geology. Pons added a spot on the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014, while helping the swimming and diving program claim its third consecutive Nebraska Life Skills Team Award.
2012-13 (Junior)
Pons continued to impress in 2012-13, amassing 23 top-five finishes and leading the Huskers with 14 victories on the season. Pons swept all five of her 1,000-yard freestyle competitions, including a career-best time of 10:06.52 against San Diego State. She also won the Kansas Classic’s 1,650-yard freestyle, finishing in a meet-record 16:48.88. Additionally, Pons set career bests in the 100- (52.83), 200- (1:49.39), and 500-yard (4:48.32) freestyles at the Iowa Invitational in December.
Once again, Pons starred in the classroom, earning academic All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive year. She also claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13.
2011-12 (Sophomore)
Pons produced a strong sophomore season both in the pool and in the classroom in 2011-12. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native earned 14 top-five finishes on the year, including eight event titles. Pons also swept the 1,000-yard freestyle, winning the event every time she competed (Iowa State, Illinois and South Dakota State). She set personal bests in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.52) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:34.75) at the 2012 Big Ten Championships. After the season, Pons qualified for and competed in the 400-yard freestyle at the Olympic Trials in Omaha.
A standout in the classroom, Pons joined Shannon Guy with honorable-mention CSCAA Scholastic All-America recognition in 2012. Pons was also one of four Husker swimmers to earn Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards. In addition, she earned an academic All-Big Ten selection and claimed a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters.
2010-11 (Freshman)
Pons stepped in for the Huskers and immediately became a go-to swimmer by capturing more than 20 top-five finishes to lead the team in 2010-11. Pons also exploded for a team-best 13 victories on the year. She tied with Kelsey Grushecky for best individual finish at the 2011 Big 12 Championships, finishing sixth in the 1,650 freestyle. Pons also set two top-five marks in NU history with her times in the 500 free (4:49.05) and the 1,650 free (16:38.14) at the Big 12 Championships.
In the classroom, Pons earned spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both the fall semester of 2010 and spring semester of 2011.
Previous
Pons came to Nebraska after being named the Iowa High School Swimmer of the Year when she won the 200- and 500-yard freestyles at the state meet in 2010. The high school All-American won the 1,000-yard freestyle title at the 2010 Spring Speedo Championship Series while adding a runner-up finish in the 1,650 free.
Personal
Bailey was born on Nov. 9, 1991, in Waterloo, Iowa. She is the daughter of Melody and Kevin Pons, and has an older brother, Bo. An English and geology major, Pons earned her bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2014. A three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2012, 2013, 2014), Pons was an honorable-mention CSCAA Scholastic All-American in 2012. She also claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall of 2011 and 2012, and spring of 2012, 2013 and 2014. She was selected to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both semesters of 2010-11. Pons earned a spot on the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014, while helping the swimming and diving program to its third consecutive Nebraska Life Skills Team Award.
Career-Best Times
|
Event |
Time |
Meet (Date) |
|
200 Free |
1:49.39 |
Iowa Invitational (2012) |
|
500 Free |
4:47.34 |
Big Ten Championships (2014) |
|
1,650 Free |
16:34.75 |
Big Ten Championships (2012) |