Bucknell University Athletics
Swimming & Diving Program Celebrates 1964 NCAA Championship Team, 1987 ECC Title Teams
10/27/2021 2:19:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Some of the most outstanding swimmers and divers in Bucknell history returned to campus last weekend to celebrate three of the school's finest teams: the 1963-64 men's squad that won the NCAA College Division championship, and the 1986-87 men's and women's teams that swept the East Coast Conference titles.Â
In 1964 Bucknell captured the very first NCAA College Division Championship at Grove City, and it came by a wide margin. It was projected to be a close meet, but Bucknell's 83 points easily outdistanced runner-up East Carolina with 50. Hall-of-Famers Jerry Thimme (golds in 200 free, 1650 free and 400 free relay) and Jim Smigie (golds in 200 fly and 400 medley relay) -- who were both in attendance for the alumni event -- were two of the catalysts as Bucknell submergered the rest of the 39-team field. The Bison finished third at the NCAA meet the following year, with Smigie repeating as 200 fly and 400 medley relay champion and Fred Woertman sweeping the two backstroke events while also leading off the winning medley relay.
Hall-of-Famers Jim Harvey and Kathy Lynch were two of the many stars on the 1987 ECC championship teams. The men's squad ended a seven-year championship drought by winning the ECC crown in Easton, Pa. The star of that show was Harvey, who many consider to be the top swimmer in Bucknell history. At the 1987 ECCs, Harvey won the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free and he also anchored three winning relays to lead the Bison to the team title. Harvey, who won 11 ECC individual gold medals and eight relays in his brilliant career, also twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and was an honorable mention All-American in 1988.Â
The captains of the '87 squad were Ken Fitch and Dave Morley. Morley swept both backstroke events and swam on all three winning relays at the championship meet. Earlier in his career he represented his native Bahamas at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.Â
For the women's squad, coached by Hall-of-Famer Lynn Kachmarik, the 1987 ECC title represented a championship ascension. The Bison finished third in 1984, followed by a pair of runner-up finishes, and then the women's program's first conference championship in 1987. It was Bucknell's very first women's conference championship in any sport other than cross country, and to do so the Bison dethroned four-time defending champion Drexel in the Dragons' home pool. Lynch was one of the stars of that championship team. She won ECC gold medals in the 500 free, 200 back and 800 free relay, and she was also the ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.Â
Below are some additional accomplishments from these three amazing teams, along with those members of each squad who were able to return for the alumni gathering.Â
1963-64 Men's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Al Hanford '66
Co-Captain Tom Sells '64
Hall of Famer Jim Smigie '65
Hall of Famer Jerry Thimme '66
Al Hanford '66
Team Accomplishments:Â
NCAA College Division Individual Champions: Phil Reynolds (100 breaststroke); Jim Smigie (200 butterfly); Jerry Thimme (200 & 1650 freestyle)
NCAA College Division Relay Champions: Jerry Thimme, Jack Fleming, Townley Larzelere and Bruce Dove (400 freestyle); Alan Hanford, Phil Reynolds, Jim Smigie and Bruce Dove (400 medley)
NCAA College Division All-Americans: Bruce Dove (100 freestyle, 400 freestyle & medley relays); Jack Fleming (100, 200 & 500 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay); Alan Hanford (400 medley relay); Townley Larzelere (50 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay); Phil Reynolds (100 & 200 breaststroke, 400 medley relay); Richard Sheldon (3-meter diving); Jim Smigie (100 & 200 butterfly, 400 medley relay); Jerry Thimme (200, 500 & 1650 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay)
Dearstyne-Dorr Award Winner: George Jenkins
Team Captains: Tom Sells and John Weinmann
1986-87 Women's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Susie Knight Edelman '87
Hall of Famer & Co-Captain Kathy Lynch '87
Co-Captain Christine Ryczak McNeil '87
Anne Walford Auda '87
Debra Donovan Paarz '88
Karen Oliver Keene '88
Susan Orth Cleary '88
Justine Beasley Whitehouse '89
Julie MacDougall Morgan '89
Elaine Lammey Yatsko '89
Ashley Clow Joiner '90
Cindy Remy Warden '90
Hall of Famer & Head Coach Lynn Comer Kachmarik
Team Accomplishments:Â
ECC Individual Champions: Kathy Lynch (500 freestyle & 200 backstroke); Susan Orth (200 butterfly)
ECC Relay Champions: Diane Hirtler, Karen Oliver, Sloane Schwalbe and Kathy Lynch (800 freestyle relay)
Academic All-District Team: Kathy Lynch
ECC Scholar-Athlete: Kathy Lynch
Robert A. Latour Award Winner: Kathy Lynch
Team Captains: Kathy Lynch and Christine Ryczak
1986-87 Men's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Paul Duffy '87
Co-Captain Ken Fitch '87
Co-Captain Dave Morley '87
Joe Huttemann '88
Hall of Famer Jim Harvey '89
John Garofolo '90
Dan Vener '90
Team Accomplishments:Â
Eastern Seaboards Individual Champions: Jim Harvey (100 freestyle)
ECC Individual Champions: Jim Harvey (50, 100 & 200 freestyle); David Morley (100 & 200 backstroke); Peter Young (200 butterfly)
ECC Relay Champions: Paul Duffy, Peter Young, David Morley and Jim Harvey (400 freestyle, 800 freestyle & 400 medley relays)
ECC Scholar-Athlete: Ethan Cancell
Dearstyne-Dorr Award Winner: Bucknell Team
Team Captains: Dave Morley and Ken Fitch
ÂGallery: (10-27-2021) Swimming & Diving Alumni Celebration
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In 1964 Bucknell captured the very first NCAA College Division Championship at Grove City, and it came by a wide margin. It was projected to be a close meet, but Bucknell's 83 points easily outdistanced runner-up East Carolina with 50. Hall-of-Famers Jerry Thimme (golds in 200 free, 1650 free and 400 free relay) and Jim Smigie (golds in 200 fly and 400 medley relay) -- who were both in attendance for the alumni event -- were two of the catalysts as Bucknell submergered the rest of the 39-team field. The Bison finished third at the NCAA meet the following year, with Smigie repeating as 200 fly and 400 medley relay champion and Fred Woertman sweeping the two backstroke events while also leading off the winning medley relay.
Hall-of-Famers Jim Harvey and Kathy Lynch were two of the many stars on the 1987 ECC championship teams. The men's squad ended a seven-year championship drought by winning the ECC crown in Easton, Pa. The star of that show was Harvey, who many consider to be the top swimmer in Bucknell history. At the 1987 ECCs, Harvey won the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free and he also anchored three winning relays to lead the Bison to the team title. Harvey, who won 11 ECC individual gold medals and eight relays in his brilliant career, also twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and was an honorable mention All-American in 1988.Â
The captains of the '87 squad were Ken Fitch and Dave Morley. Morley swept both backstroke events and swam on all three winning relays at the championship meet. Earlier in his career he represented his native Bahamas at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.Â
For the women's squad, coached by Hall-of-Famer Lynn Kachmarik, the 1987 ECC title represented a championship ascension. The Bison finished third in 1984, followed by a pair of runner-up finishes, and then the women's program's first conference championship in 1987. It was Bucknell's very first women's conference championship in any sport other than cross country, and to do so the Bison dethroned four-time defending champion Drexel in the Dragons' home pool. Lynch was one of the stars of that championship team. She won ECC gold medals in the 500 free, 200 back and 800 free relay, and she was also the ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.Â
Below are some additional accomplishments from these three amazing teams, along with those members of each squad who were able to return for the alumni gathering.Â
1963-64 Men's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Al Hanford '66
Co-Captain Tom Sells '64
Hall of Famer Jim Smigie '65
Hall of Famer Jerry Thimme '66
Al Hanford '66
Team Accomplishments:Â
NCAA College Division Individual Champions: Phil Reynolds (100 breaststroke); Jim Smigie (200 butterfly); Jerry Thimme (200 & 1650 freestyle)
NCAA College Division Relay Champions: Jerry Thimme, Jack Fleming, Townley Larzelere and Bruce Dove (400 freestyle); Alan Hanford, Phil Reynolds, Jim Smigie and Bruce Dove (400 medley)
NCAA College Division All-Americans: Bruce Dove (100 freestyle, 400 freestyle & medley relays); Jack Fleming (100, 200 & 500 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay); Alan Hanford (400 medley relay); Townley Larzelere (50 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay); Phil Reynolds (100 & 200 breaststroke, 400 medley relay); Richard Sheldon (3-meter diving); Jim Smigie (100 & 200 butterfly, 400 medley relay); Jerry Thimme (200, 500 & 1650 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay)
Dearstyne-Dorr Award Winner: George Jenkins
Team Captains: Tom Sells and John Weinmann
1986-87 Women's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Susie Knight Edelman '87
Hall of Famer & Co-Captain Kathy Lynch '87
Co-Captain Christine Ryczak McNeil '87
Anne Walford Auda '87
Debra Donovan Paarz '88
Karen Oliver Keene '88
Susan Orth Cleary '88
Justine Beasley Whitehouse '89
Julie MacDougall Morgan '89
Elaine Lammey Yatsko '89
Ashley Clow Joiner '90
Cindy Remy Warden '90
Hall of Famer & Head Coach Lynn Comer Kachmarik
Team Accomplishments:Â
ECC Individual Champions: Kathy Lynch (500 freestyle & 200 backstroke); Susan Orth (200 butterfly)
ECC Relay Champions: Diane Hirtler, Karen Oliver, Sloane Schwalbe and Kathy Lynch (800 freestyle relay)
Academic All-District Team: Kathy Lynch
ECC Scholar-Athlete: Kathy Lynch
Robert A. Latour Award Winner: Kathy Lynch
Team Captains: Kathy Lynch and Christine Ryczak
1986-87 Men's Team
At the Alumni Event:
Paul Duffy '87
Co-Captain Ken Fitch '87
Co-Captain Dave Morley '87
Joe Huttemann '88
Hall of Famer Jim Harvey '89
John Garofolo '90
Dan Vener '90
Team Accomplishments:Â
Eastern Seaboards Individual Champions: Jim Harvey (100 freestyle)
ECC Individual Champions: Jim Harvey (50, 100 & 200 freestyle); David Morley (100 & 200 backstroke); Peter Young (200 butterfly)
ECC Relay Champions: Paul Duffy, Peter Young, David Morley and Jim Harvey (400 freestyle, 800 freestyle & 400 medley relays)
ECC Scholar-Athlete: Ethan Cancell
Dearstyne-Dorr Award Winner: Bucknell Team
Team Captains: Dave Morley and Ken Fitch
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