Douglas grad Kolbe earns Hall of Fame honor

Elliott Kolbe, who graduated from Douglas High School in 1998, was recently inducted into the Seattle University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Through his four years at Seattle, he earned All-American status 19 times and became the school's first ever individual national champion by winning the 200 breaststroke. He was also a member of the national championship 800 freestyle relay team and helped lead Seattle to the 2002 NAIA team national championship.

He earned team MVP honors in each of his four seasons and was a two-time recipient of the Bill Fenton 101 Club Athlete of the Year Award.

Kolbe remains in Seattle's top 10 times in many events. He received a bachelor's degree in diagnostic ultrasound and worked for the University of Washington for six years.

He and his wide, Laura Oliva - a 2006 Seattle University graduate and recipient of the Hunthousen Award for highest academic achievement, are travelling the world for a year.

Seattle inducted 13 former student athletes, two teams, one former coach and one long-time athletic supporter into its hall of fame in late May during a luncheon at the Campion Tower Ballroom. Inductees are selected by a committee which meets three times during the winter to makes its decision. All current hall of famers are presented on a wall display near the lobby of the campus' Connolly Center.

Kolbe started his year-round swimming with the Douglas Dolfins the year the Carson Valley Swim Center opened. He won the state championship in the 100 breaststroke for Douglas in 1998 and still owns several records at the Carson Valley Swim Center and four Douglas High records.