Monmouth has a storied tradition of swimming excellence, featuring gold medal winners at several levels, including the Olympics. Six members of its Athletics Hall of Fame were members of the swimming program, including Coach Richard Steadman, for whom Monmouth's natatorium is named, while the 1974 Monmouth men's and women's swimming teams were recently honored as teams of distinction at last year's Monmouth Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner. As the University sets to reintroduce the program under head coach Matt Nunnally, here is a look at all of the past members of Monmouth swimming, who have be inducted into the Monmouth Athletics Hall of Fame (in order of induction):
Ken Tillman '71 - Swimming:
A four-time NAIA All-American (1967, '68, '69, '71), Ken Tillman '71 was a National NAIA Intercollegiate Champion in 10 events and was inducted into the NAIA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. Tillman was a four-time Metropolitan Conference and New Jersey State Intercollegiate Champion (1967, '68, '69, '71) and record holder.
Tillman was inducted into the Monmouth College Athletic Hall of Fame in May 1981, as part of the first-ever class.
Susan Steadman LeGlise '69 - Diving:
Susan Steadman LeGlise '69 was a four-time Metropolitan and New Jersey State Intercollegiate Champion in 1966, '67, '68 and '69. The diving star also won the Eastern Intercollegiate Championship in 1966, '67 and '68, while winning the 1967 National Intercollegiate Championship. Steadman LeGlise also won the James Thomas Kelsey Award at Monmouth for scholastic and athletic achievement with a 4.0 index GPA.
Steadman LeGlise was inducted into the Monmouth College Athletic Hall of Fame in May 1981, as part of the first-ever class.
Allan Frederick '73 - Diving:
As a diver, Allan Frederick '73 was a four-time NAIA All-American (1970, '71, '72, '73) and earned a pair of NCAA - College Division All-America citations in 1972 and 1973. A National Intercollegiate one and three meter diving champion, Frederick was also a four-time Metropolitan Conference, and New Jersey State Intercollegiate Champion in both the one and three meter events (1970-73).
Frederick was inducted into the Monmouth College Athletic Hall of Fame in May 1981, as part of the first-ever class
Richard Steadman - Swimming/Diving/Water Polo Coach:
Richard Steadman coached swimmers and divers that won gold medals at numerous levels of competition, including NAIA, NCAA Division II, and Division III. Steadman, who the Monmouth Natatorium is named in honor of, coached 1983 Pan American Games Gold Medalist Laurie Lehner, while Monmouth swimmers earned a total of 127 All America citations under his watchful eye. Steadman was voted the “Man of the Year” by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America in 1982.
Members of the class of 2007 represented the first inductees to the Hall of Fame in nearly a quarter century, as the last induction was held in November 1984. Steadman was inducted on November 9, 2007.
Wendy Boglioli - Swimming:
Wendy Boglioli attended Monmouth University from 1973 to 1976 and is one of the most decorated athletes in Monmouth Athletics history. Boglioli was the American Record Holder in the 100-meter butterfly, the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly in 1976, 1977 and 1978. At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, she received a gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay, which set the World and Olympic Records, and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly.
Boglioli was inducted on November 9, 2007.
William Kiss '77 - Swimming:
William Kiss '77, who was a 16-time All-American during his four years at Monmouth, set numerous school records (50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 freestyle) in 1974, and established a new national mark in the 200 yard freestyle in 1975. In 1975, Kiss was crowned the national champion in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle, was selected the New Jersey Collegiate Swimmer of the Year, was ranked top-25 in the world in the 200 meter freestyle and was the AAU Eastern Champion and record holder in the 200 meter. He was part of a 400 yard freestyle team that won a National AAU Championship, was ranked fourth in the world and held the American record. Kiss, who coupled his national championship status in the 100 and 200 once again in 1977, was also an assistant coach under 2007 Monmouth Hall of Fame inductee Dick Steadman in 1978, where he helped guide the team to a conference title and a second place finish at the national championships.
Kiss was inducted on October 3, 2008.
Cheryl Goerke Criscuolo '82 - Swimming:
Cheryl Goerke Criscuolo '82 was a 16-time All-American swimmer while at Monmouth College. Of her 16 All-America citations, Goerke Criscuolo earned 13 as an individual and three as part of a relay team. A three-time team captain, she won the 1978 AIAW Small College National title in 200-yard butterfly, and earned the 1978 Monmouth College Captains Award. Goerke Criscuolo won the AIAW Division II All-America Award in 1979, while also being named the school's Most Outstanding Athlete. During her senior campaign in 1981-82, she placed third at the Division II National Championships (100 IM).
Goerke Criscuolo was inducted on October 30, 2009.
Deborah Renz Farrell '76 - Swimming:
Deborah Renz Farrell '76, an 11-time All-American swimmer, is one of Monmouth College's most decorated athletes. Renz Farrell, who earned All-American status in the 50 freestyle at the 1973 national meet, set a national collegiate record in the 50 meter freestyle at AIAW swimming nationals in 1974, while earning four other certificates, including the 50 fly, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and the 400 free relay, where the team finished seventh in the nation. The unanimous Monmouth Athlete of the Year in 1974, Renz Farrell was named the 1975 Swimming Coaches Association of New Jersey Women's Collegiate Swimmer of the Year. In 1975, she finished second at the national meet in both the 50 freestyle and the 200 medley relay. In 1976, Renz Farrell set the American record in the 200 meter free relay at AIAW swimming nationals.
Renz Farrell was inducted on February 1, 2013.
On November 1, 2014, the Hall of Fame recognized a Team of Distinction for the second time, with the 1974 Men's and Women's Swimming teams being honored.
The 1974 men's and women's swimming teams featured an unprecedented level of team and individual success at Monmouth. The men's and women's team each won NAIA & AIAW National Championships and earned seventh place finishes at the NCAA national meet. The squad featured 16 combined All-Americans and 22 qualifiers for the National Championships. A combined 30 Monmouth swimming records were set during the 1974 season and the team would feature four future National champions and one future Olympic champion.
As a NCAA Division I sport at Monmouth, the Hawks will join current full MAAC members Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Niagara, Rider and Saint Peter's in offering both men's and women's swimming. Full member Siena also has a women's team, while Bryant is an associate member of the MAAC on the men's side, with regular season competition starting in Fall 2015.
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