Alfred University Athletics

Sara (Thompson) Geitner is the most decorated women’s swimmer ever at Alfred University. A four-year member of AU women’s team (2000-04), Geitner earned All-American honors as a sophomore in 2002, when she placed 16th in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Division III championship meet. She was 24th in the 200-yard breaststroke at that year’s national championship meet.

She still holds school records in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley and swam on teams that held records (since broken) in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays.    

Geitner was a five-time Empire 8 champ (three times in the 100 breast and twice in the 200 breast) and twice earned state titles in the 100 breast. She was a captain her junior and senior seasons.    

She describes as her greatest thrill as an AU student-athlete as arriving on campus as a freshman in 2000 and entering the pool for the first time as a member of the swimming and diving team. “Immediately I was part of a group who shared an interest. More than that, I was part of a community who looked out for me and supported me through my four years at Alfred,” she said.    

Geitner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with dual majors in biology and environmental studies, from AU in 2004. She also has a master’s degree in adolescence science and inclusive education from the University of Rochester (2013).