50-Year Anniversary of Florida Women’s Swimming & Diving
1/20/2022
One of the five sports the University of Florida fielded in its first season in 1972-73, Gators Swimming & Diving made a splash right from the beginning.
In that first season, Florida women’s swimming & diving took second in the 1973 AIAW Championships. In that initial season, two national individual titles went to the Gators – Sue Halfacre (400 free) and 400-free relay (Halfacre, Kathy Thomas, Jackie White & Barbara Thomas).
Here’s just a few first for Florida women’s swimming & diving:
- First UF women’s program to win a national team title (1979 AIAW). Also first Southeastern Conference women’s program to win a national team title in any sport.
- Won first-ever NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship in 1982. The meet was the first NCAA Championship held in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
- First Olympians (Renee Laravie, 1976) and medalists for UF women (1984 – Theresa Andrews - two gold, Tracy Caulkins - three gold and Mary Wayte – two gold).
Now in its 50th season, here’s a look at what Gators Women's Swimming & Diving has accomplished in its storied history.
From its first season of varsity action, Florida women's swimming & diving was a force on the national level. Florida (above) took second in the AIAW National Championships.
National Team Champions
1979 AIAW
1982 NCAA
2010 NCAA
Florida women’s swimming & diving has found success in the conference, national and international stages.
104
80 Events | 24 Relays
91 NCAA event titles is No. 2 among all Division I women's swimming & diving programs.
218 with 1,455 All-America honors
Gallery: Women's Swimming & Diving Event Champions
7 Gators Among College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) Top 100*
Gallery: CSCAA Top 100
Florida's first Honda Broderick Award recipient was Renee Laravie in 1978.
Tracy Caulkins twice (1982, 1984) received Broderick Cup (award’s previous name) as top overall female collegiate athlete. Caulkins is one of three in the 44-year history of the honor to repeat as the Honda Cup (current name) winner (Rachel Garcia - UCLA/softball and Maya Moore - Connecticut/basketball). She is one of five SEC athletes to claim the Honda Cup.
Two other Gators claimed the Honda Award for swimming - Nicole Haislett (1994) and Caroline Burckle (2008).
17
Southeastern Conference team titles leads the league.
3
Claimed four SEC Overall Female Athlete of the Year
15
Gators with 25 SEC Swimmer or Diver of the Year honors
SEC Female Athlete of the Year
Award started for women in 1984
41
Olympians (20 golds, 9 silver and 12 bronze).
62
Olympic appearances for Gator women since 1976.
Gallery: Women's Swimming & Diving Olympians
Seven
have claimed a total of 11 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
- Elizabeth Beisel (2012, 2013, 2014). 2013 At-Large overall Academic All-American of Year.
- Vipa Bernhardt (2005)
- Tracy Caulkins (1983, 1984)
- Teresa Crippen (2010)
- Heather Lawrence (1998)
- Megan Neyer (1983, 1986)
- Allison Wagner (1996)
