James P. Smigie (1980) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

James P. Smigie

Induction:
1980
Class:
1965

Sport: Swimming
Jim Smigie won the 100 and 200-yard butterfly races to pace Bucknell to the 1964 NCAA College Division Championship. A co-captain of the 1964-65 Bison team and a member of teams that had a combined 28-4 record and won three straight Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, Smigie also won NCAA gold medals in the 400-yard medley relay in 1964 and the 200 butterfly in 1965 when Bucknell finished third in the team competition. The first MAC swimmer to win seven individual conference gold medals in his career, he was the third Eastern swimmer to break two minutes in the 200 butterfly event. He was undefeated in 34 dual meets in that race and was the cover subject for the 1965 Official Collegiate-Scholastic Swimming Guide published by the NCAA. As a senior, Smigie received the Bison Club Award, given to the athlete who best exemplifies the "winning spirit of Bucknell;" the Christy Mathewson Award as top senior athlete; the ECAC Medallion for outstanding scholastic and athletic ability; and the Dearstyne-Dorr Award for contributions to Bucknell swimming. He received a master's degree in business administration from Bucknell and coached the freshman swimming team to a 5-2 record in 1965-66.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1980)