The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2019
- Class:
- 1988
An NCAA individual champion and 15-time All-American, Patty (Sabo) Karsten helped lead the Longhorns to four-consecutive NCAA team titles from 1984-87. Karsten, who excelled in the distance freestyle and individual medley events, earned four All-America honors as a freshman in 1983-84. She placed third in the 1,650 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle and eighth in the 400 individual medley and was on the 800 free relay that took third at the 1984 NCAA Championship while helping the Longhorns claim the national title. Karsten also won three individual titles (400 individual medley, 500 freestyle, 1,650 freestyle) and was on the winning 800 free relay at the Southwest Conference Championship in her freshman year. As a sophomore in 1984-85, she placed fourth in both the 500 freestyle and the 1,650 freestyle and finished 14th in the 400 individual medley at the national meet to help the Longhorns claim the 1985 NCAA team title. Karsten also won the 1,650 freestyle at the 1985 SWC Championship. In the summer after her sophomore season, she won a gold medal in the 400 freestyle for Team USA at the 1985 World University Games in Kobe, Japan. Karsten garnered five All-America honors, including the individual national title in the 400 individual medley (4:16.58), to lead Texas to the NCAA team title during her junior year in 1985-86. In addition to her individual championship, she placed third in the 1,650 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 butterfly and was on the 800 free relay that took second at the 1986 NCAA meet. Karsten also was named the team's Swimming MVP as a junior. As a senior and team co-captain (with Kara McGrath) in 1986-87, she placed second in both the 400 individual medley and the 1,650 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle at the national meet to pace the Longhorns to the NCAA team championship. Karsten also won three individual titles (1,650 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 400 individual medley) and was on the winning 800 free relay at the 1987 SWC Championship. She shared SWC Championship meet high-point accolades (60 points) with teammate Betsy Mitchell. Karsten earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Texas in 1988. A NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship honoree, she received a Master of Science degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1989. Karsten currently serves as Vice President, Industry Relations at BI WORLDWIDE Events. She and her husband, Joel, reside in Minneapolis, Minn.
