Cleo Higgins Droege (1965)

During her freshman year, while competing in an international dual meet with Japanese Olympians, she became the first Hawai‘i female to break the 1:00 mark in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing in a time of 59.9 seconds. It was a mark she would continue to beat, setting a new ILH record of 58.6 seconds in March of 1962.

Droege raced past her competition throughout high school, setting new ILH records in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle and anchoring a record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay. As a senior, she competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials, missing the qualifying time in the 100-meter freestyle by just one-tenth of a second.

For her athletic achievements, she was presented the Thurston Swim Award in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965, and was named Punahou’s first-ever Outstanding Female Athlete in 1965.