The women's swimming and diving program surfaced as a sport at Kenyon College in the 1975-76 academic year. Less than a decade later, the Ladies stood atop the NCAA podium as national champions.
Â
Patty Abt
Head Coach Jim Steen, who took over both the Kenyon men's and women's programs in that 1975-76 season, burned little time constructing a pair of dynasties. While the Lords claimed their first national title in the 1979-80 season, the Ladies climbed to the top spot in the 1983-84 season.
The first-ever NCAA Division III Championship for women's swimming and diving was held in Boston in the 1981-82 season. Williams College finished first that year and then pulled off the repeat the following year. Kenyon placed second and fourth, respectively, in those two meets.
The next year's championship, held at Emory University in Atlanta, would change everything for the Ladies. Kenyon won six events, set five NCAA records, recorded 307.5 points and won what would be the first of 17 consecutive national championships. Hamline University placed second with 283.5 points. Pomona-Pitzer was third with 260 points and top-seeded Williams finished fourth with 232.5 points.
Kenyon's senior tri-captains—Ann Batchelder, Rose Brintlinger and Amy Rentschler—had a major impact on the results of the championship meet, but it was freshman Patty Abt who was the difference maker.
During the opening day of the meet, freshman Lori Thompson set the tone, winning the 500-yard freestyle. Abt was not far behind, taking third place in the event. That same evening, after swimming the 500, Abt won the 50-yard freestyle in an NCAA record time. Ann Batchelder contributed a third-place showing in the sprint and the Ladies were off and running.
Abt continued to dominate the second day. She won the 200-yard freestyle in record time and swam a leg on the winning and record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team. The other three swimmers contributing to that relay victory were Renee Pannebaker, Rentschler and Batchelder. Those results gave the Ladies a three-point edge in the team standings.
Ladies 1983-84 roster
Â
Going into the third and final day of the meet, the Ladies were eager to seal the deal. Abt and Batchelder again made sure to keep Kenyon on track. They turned in a one-two finish in the 100-yard freestyle with Abt establishing yet another NCAA standard. Finally, the Ladies finished things off with an impressive win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Rentschler, Abt, Batchelder and Maria Ferrazza smashed the NCAA record and won the meet's final event by more than five seconds.
Abt would go on to dominate at the national level for years. She won four straight NCAA titles in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, and took three of four titles in the 200-yard freestyle. The First Lady of Kenyon swimming went on to complete her collegiate career with a total of 23 NCAA event titles and the maximum 28 All-America awards.
Abt was one of eight Kenyon swimmers to gain All-America status during that 1983-84 championship meet. The other seven were Karen Agee, Batchelder, Ferrazza, Nadine Neil, Pannebaker, Rentschler, Thompson and Beth Welty.
Â
Other Kenyon Classics...
