Eastern Wayne Today

Barbara Munoz, a fifth-year swimmer at Wayne State University (WSU), is preparing to compete in the 2025 NCAA Division 2 National Championships. Originally from Colombia, Munoz began swimming competitively at the age of five. Despite experiencing burnout during high school, an opportunity from WSU head coach Sean Peters led her to continue her swimming career in the United States.

Munoz faced challenges adapting to life in the U.S., including language barriers and cultural differences. "Freshman Barbara had a lot of doubts that Wayne State was the place for her to be," said WSU assistant coach Gloria Martinez Perez. However, she eventually adjusted and thrived both academically and athletically.

Munoz recently achieved notable success by winning the 200 Butterfly with a GLIAC meet record time and an NCAA "A" cut time. She also won the 1650 free event. Coach Martinez Perez praised Munoz's leadership style: "She won't tell people what to do, but she will show how to work hard."

As Munoz prepares for her final competition as a Warrior, she reflects on her journey: "It's bittersweet... I love Wayne State." Looking ahead, Munoz plans to stay in the U.S. after graduation with aspirations of competing in the LA 2028 Olympics for Colombia.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Munoz has excelled academically. She earned a bachelor's degree in Management in May 2024 and received numerous academic honors including being named First Team CSCAA Scholar All-American in 2022 and 2024.

Throughout her career, Munoz has been recognized as a 10-time All-American and a 21-time All-GLIAC honoree. She is also a four-time GLIAC Swimmer of the Week.