Few Washington College alumni have ever had the honor of representing their home countries in the Olympic games, but that was exactly what Pamela Vasquez did when she swam for her native Honduras at the 2000 games in the midst of her outstanding collegiate career.
Pamela burst onto the collegiate swimming scene as a freshman during the 1999-2000 season. She was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 2000 Centennial Conference Championships afterwinning seven medals, including gold medals in the 200, 500, and 1650-yard freestyle events.
The following winter, Pamela again won six medals at the conference championships, repeating as champion of the 500 and 1650 freestyle events and earning her first two relay gold medals in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays. She qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time and went on to earn All-America honorable mention in both the 200 and 1650 freestyle events, placing 14th in both events as the Shorewomen finished 26th in the final team standings.
As a junior, Pamela captured four medals at the Centennial Conference Championships. Her senior year, she won four more medals, including her third career gold medals in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle events. She qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships for the second time and placed 18th in the 1650 freestyle.
Pamela was the female winner of the College’s Senior Athletic Award in 2003 after piling up 20 career Centennial Conference Championship medals, including nine golds. She owned four individual school records at the time of her graduation and still ranks among the top 10 fastest in school history in five events.
With Pamela on the team, the Shorewomen posted a remarkable 45-4 dual-meet record over four seasons, including a perfect 12-0 mark during the 2001-02 season.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Pamela Vasquez into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 17th day of October, 2015.
