The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2013
- Class:
- 1992
A 20-time All-American who helped the Longhorns to two NCAA team titles, Katy Arris-Wilson left Texas as one of the most versatile swimmers in school history. She stepped in as a freshman and made an immediate impact individually and on relays. Arris earned All-America honors by placing third in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and second in the 800 freestyle relay. She added honorable mention All-America honors in the 1,650 freestyle and helped Texas to a runner-up finish at the 1989 NCAA Championships. Arris’ three top-eight individual finishes and contributions on relays as a sophomore helped Texas to its sixth NCAA team title and eighth overall national title in 1990. She tallied three more individual All-America honors as a sophomore in middle distances and butterfly events. Arris placed second in the 200 freestyle, third in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 butterfly at the 1990 NCAA Championships. She helped UT to the NCAA crown in the 400 freestyle relay and added third-place finishes in the 800 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay to help the Horns to the national title. Arris added five All-America finishes as a junior at the 1991 NCAA Championships, and Texas secured its seventh NCAA title and ninth overall national title. Arris helped UT to its second straight NCAA title in the 400 freestyle relay. She placed second in the 500 freestyle, third in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 1,650 freestyle and added a third-place showing in the 800 freestyle relay. Arris closed her UT career with an individual national crown at the 1992 NCAA Championships, where Texas placed second in the team standings. Arris won the 1,650 freestyle and posted a fourth-place finish in the 500 freestyle and a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle. She also placed second in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays. Arris finished her Texas career with three SWC individual titles and five SWC relay crowns. The Southwest Conference selected Arris as its Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1992, and the NCAA awarded Arris a postgraduate scholarship following her senior season. Arris also was selected to the GTE Southwest Conference Academic Honor Roll. Arris represented the U.S. in international competition at the 1991 FINA World Championships, 1990 Goodwill Games and at the 1989 and 1991 Pan Pacific Championships. Arris received the state of Texas’ NCAA Woman of the Year Award in 1992. She graduated with honors in 1992 and earned a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in economics with a minor in business administration. Today, Arris is the president of Tide Swim Team in Virginia Beach, Va. She and her husband, Kevin Wilson, are the parents of three children, William, Sophie and Kayla.
