CMC75 Moments: 1989 Women's Swimming and Diving Takes First SCIAC Title
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1989 Women's Swim & Dive Takes Program's First SCIAC Championship
The CMS Women's Swimming and Diving team had been knocking on the door of its first SCIAC Championship throughout the 1980s, but their powerhouse neighbors from across the street consistently stood in their way. In 1987-88, the Athenas came as close as they had ever been, defeating Pomona-Pitzer by 12 points in their dual meet, but the Sagehens bounced back to win the championship.
In 1988-89, though, CMS was able to flip that script in impressive fashion. After a 143-94 loss to Pomona-Pitzer in the regular season finale, the Athenas' championship hopes might have seemed dim, but they responded with a dramatic win in the SCIAC Championship meet to win the program's first title.
The program also had five All-Americans at the 1989 NCAA Division III Championships, led by a second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke from Traci Johnson, while the medley relay teams of Janine Jurgensen, Traci Bower, Kate Beeson and Shelley Ries also earned All-America honors. Becky Hebert, Tara Senio, Lisa Coel and Carolyn Carson qualified for nationals as well to help CMS to a 19th place finish.
Lisa (Coel) Harrison:
Swimming was an important part of my CMC/CMS experience for which I'm forever grateful. On our first championship win in '88-'89, I remember feeling so psyched that we reversed the pattern of the prior year with PP, so even though we lost in the dual meet, we ultimately came back and won the Championship meet. It was a sweet moment.
I also remember the camaraderie of our Nationals trip and the younger swimmers being total goof-balls (hey, Traci Johnson), while our sole senior, Carolyn Carson, stayed calm and cool. Also, Carolyn's parents bought our team really nice monogrammed towels which I used for years! One of our kids, Sam, plays polo for CMS so it's been great to feel reconnected!
Stéphanie Wahab:
The swim team was my home at CMC. I remember feeling so joyful and proud to be part of the winning team. I recall the feeling being sweet and generative-- so much possibility. I took time off of swimming (8 years) after graduating from CMC, and I always knew that someday I'd return, in large part because of the home base, connections and community.
Tara (Senio) Freedman:
My memories from that season were trying to fit in Econ homework between heats during travel meets, being bone-tired from the two-a-day and weight workouts over Christmas break, yet still playing pranks on the Stags, and how good it felt to finally shave my legs right before SCIAC.
1988-89 Women's Swimming Roster
Head Coach: Phil Hofmann
Kate Beeson (So., Scripps)
Traci Bower (So., CMC)
Shannon Brennan (So., Scripps)
Wendy Burge (Sr., Scripps)
Carolyn Carson (Sr., CMC)
Natalie Cervera (Fr., Scripps)
Lisa Coel (Jr., CMC)
Suzanne Haner (So., Scripps)
Becky Hebert (Fr., Scripps)
Michelle Henderson (Fr., CMC)
Corrine Johnson (Sr., CMC)
Lesli Johnson (Sr., HMC)
Mary Johnson (Jr., HMC)
Traci Johnson (So., Scripps)
Janine Jurdensen (So., CMC)
Shannon Kelly (Fr., CMC)
Mechelle Lewis (Fr., HMC)
Linda Lund (Sr., CMC)
Michelle McClure (Jr., CMC)
Christa Pickens (So., Scripps)
Amy Reid (Fr., CMC)
Shelley Ries (So., CMC)
Tara Senio (So., CMC)
Debby Slack (Jr., CMC)
Melissa Thompson-Mabry (Sr., Scripps)
Stéphanie Wahab (Jr., CMC)
Christy Will (Jr., Scripps)