A three-year letterwinner, senior Meg Stanley (Leawood, Kansas, Shawnee Mission East HS) was co-winner of Illinois Wesleyan's "Most Valuable Performer" for the 2015-16 season as she was a four-time honorable mention All-American at the 2016 NCAA meet. She placed 15th in the 500 freestyle, 11th in the 1650 freestyle, 14th on the 800 free relay team and 12th on 200 free relay team.
She was named the "Most Valuable Performer" at the 2016 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin meet as she won the 1650 freestyle with new CCIW championship and open records while also swimming on the first place 400 free relay team.
As a sophomore she was named "Female Outstanding Participant" honors at the CCIW meet as she won the 1650 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and swam a leg on the winning 800 free relay team.
In her career, Stanley has been named CCIW "Women's Swimmer of the Week" four times.
Majoring in history and secondary education at Illinois Wesleyan, Meg is the daughter of Scott and Dianne Stanley.
Why you chose to attend Illinois Wesleyan: Coach Fish convinced me.
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: American History to 1877- I’ve tutored quite a few of my fellow athletes in the subject matter.
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Balancing the academic, athletic and extracurricular expectations. The worst part is no one makes us do it- we choose to deal with a stressful (but rewarding) schedule.
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? I got an A- in History of U.S. Foreign Relations. I tried to write a 10-page paper in one night.
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Not heights but high edges.
Worst habit: Eating a jar of Nutella in one sitting.
Most expensive traffic ticket: I’ve never gotten one!
Language I’d like to learn: Mandarin, so I can see the look on Professor Lutze’s face when I converse with him.
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: A long time; I’ve lost it before and survived.
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Indefatigable, “persistent” is too common of a word. My dad would sub in something more interesting.
Favorite sports figure: Katie Ledecky
My greatest moment in sports was: Breaking 17:00.00 in the mile was pretty incredible.
The best player I ever faced was: Lauren Dineen-Griffin because racing your own training partner gets exhausting.
Worst dresser on my team: I’ve only ever seen [assistant coach] Tommy Gilbert wear IWU gear so I doubt he’s very good at picking out any other clothing.
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: My roommate has had a pickle wrapped in saran wrap in there for over a month.
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Ellen and Brielle
Favorite food: Cheese
Vegetable I won’t eat: Asparagus
Pepsi or Coke? I don’t drink soda!
Favorite TV show: "Gilmore Girls"
Favorite musical group: The Pentatonix
Favorite movie: "White Christmas"
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Shailene Woodley
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: “What To Do Between Naps”
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
My dream job would be: Being a high school history teacher and swim coach
Place I’d most like to live: Either Kansas City or Kauai…
If you come back in another life, what would you like to return as: Definitely a cat so I could nap all day.
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Going to New Zealand and Polihale State Park on Kauai
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: I have some rad 1980’s workout jackets
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Not a person but my cat Coco; I spoil her rotten.
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Nothing, I hated third grade.
