Cleary honored as DP’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Shannon Cleary makes an impact in water polo and in the classroom at Dos Pueblos High.

Her achievements in athletics and academics were recognized by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table on Monday as she was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for DP.

Cleary has been a DP varsity player since her freshman year. She was part of the 2010-11 CIF Division 1 championship team.

She is a two-time team captain and a two-time All-Channel League first-team selection.

At the club level, she helped the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club to a gold medal at the U18 Junior Olympics and earned All-American honors.

Cleary plays the demanding two-meter position. She will be taking her talent to Stanford in the fall. There, she’ll join her brother, Conner, and former DP teammates, Kiley and Jaime Neushul.

“Shannon is a relentlessly mobile, tireless athlete who keeps adding to her skill set,” Stanford coach John Tanner said about her in a school press release. “She had a terrific summer, culminating at Junior Olympics, when she looked ready to flourish as a college polo player.”

Cleary is solid in the classroom, too. She carries a 4.40 GPA, with a class load that includes advanced placement calculus and literature. She’s also involved in leadership and student government.

She is a four-year member of the National Honor Society and has been recognized as an AP Scholar with honors. Her academic interests include public health and international hospital systems.

Cleary also does volunteer work through the Calvary Chapel. She is the daughter of Shaun and Betsy Cleary.