Making Waves: The Legacy of Widener’s 1977 Girls’s Swimming All-Americas

CHESTER, Pa. – To kick off Women’s History Month, Widener Athletics is honoring the 1977 Women’s Swimming All-Americans, a groundbreaking relay staff that laid the groundwork for excellence in girls’s athletics at Widener.

The staff, comprising Donna Bender, Doreen McGowan, Linda Fleck, Patty Leayman, and Marsha Reinecker, competed as Widener’s freestyle relay squad in the course of the 1977 AIAW National Championships. Competing in a four-member relay format with one alternate, they delivered a powerful efficiency on the nationwide stage, incomes All-America recognition.

Their excellent season noticed them end undefeated earlier than the nationwide championships. At the AIAW Championships, Widener secured eleventh place within the 400-yard freestyle relay and twelfth within the 200-yard freestyle relay, solidifying the Pride’s standing among the many nation’s elite packages.

Bender additionally had an distinctive particular person profession, successful 5 titles within the Middle Atlantic Conference and graduating with eight college information at Widener, every lasting no less than 20 years. During her preliminary two seasons, she solely misplaced as soon as out of 48 races, contributing to the Pride’s outstanding 20-0 staff document.

The legacy of this extraordinary group continued lengthy after their school days. In 2013, Bender, McGowan, Fleck, and Leayman had been all included within the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Century Team, solidifying their legacy within the convention. In recognition of their achievements, all the relay staff was inducted into the Widener Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

As Widener Athletics honors Women’s History Month, the 1977 Women’s Swimming All-Americans stand as a testomony to teamwork, excellence, and the enduring influence of ladies who helped forge the Pride custom.