50th Anniversary of Women's Athletics at Binghamton University
Profile: Judy Finkelstein Sullivan, 1967-71
Brief: A native of New Rochelle, N.Y., Judy came to Harpur College in 1967, along with her twin sister, Laura. Judy swam on the club swim team for two seasons before serving as captain of the historic first women's intercollegiate swim team (and first-ever women's team in any sport at Binghamton) in 1969-70. After going 0-3 that first varsity season with losses to Syracuse and Cortland (2x), the young team went 3-1 in its second season in 1970-71. After a loss to Syracuse, head coach Janet Hill's squad defeated Albany 72-54 for its very first dual meet victory. Finkelstein went on to set the school record in the 50 fly before graduating with a degree in English: Literature and General Rhetoric in 1971. After stints in the newspaper business, boatbuilding and radio broadcasting, she spent 25 years as a firefighter and paramedic and still remains an active paramedic on the Maryland Eastern Shore. For the last 19 years, she has owned and managed a horse farm for abused or unwanted equines, among other animals who need care.
Photo caption: From left: Denise Pieratti '73, Elvira Chiccarelli '73, Coach Janet Hill Zorn,
Judy Finkelstein '71
Get to Know Judy ...
What was your athletics background before coming to school in Binghamton?
My High School sports background, as related to the school itself, was largely non-existent. There were no competitive teams, that I recall for girls; the High School did not have its own pool. My upbringing was focused on music and the Fine Arts, anyway, as well as academic excellence! I was focused on anything outside, especially activities that included animals. My passion for sports came from my father, who used to sneak me away for horseback riding lessons, telling my mother we were going to drive golf balls. My maternal Grandmother was also a covert ally, teaching me to swim at a young age... despite the fact that she couldn’t herself swim!!!
She opened the door to the world of aquatics, and combined with my experiences during Junior and Senior High School, at private Summer Camps, I achieved Red Cross Instructorship Certifications in Swimming, Life Saving, and Small Craft Operations. Eventually, as a Senior Camp Counselor, I assisted in coaching the Camp Swim Team, at the YMCA Camp in MA. Our competitions were mostly intra-Camp “Color Wars”- a competitive two weeks of the Blue Team vs. the Red Team, involving every aspect of Camp life.
When College became a reality, and my SATS proved sufficient to secure me eligibility for several scholarships, I wanted to go to Skidmore... a Women’s College offering an Equestrian Arts Program, that included a competitive riding team. I was accepted to that school, but without a Financial Scholarship. I was awarded a Regents Scholarship to Harpur ... and, since my parents would have three children in college at one time ... my twin sister (who was/is a brilliant musician) and my brother, three years younger, SUNY B was the only one financially achievable. My twin sister graduated Magna Cum Laude; I graduated holding the Harpur Women’s SWIM TEAM record for 50 yard Butterfly, and as Team Co-Captain.
What was the campus climate like when you were here, particularly as it related to women's athletics?
The climate, at that time in Harpur’s history, in terms of opportunities, facilities, and overall treatment of women athletes, was toward the negative side of neutral. We were, during my freshman and sophomore years, just a club; beneficial in its own right, because we had an opportunity to convene with other female swimming enthusiasts, all of whom valued exercise and fitness, and all of whom embraced the unique aspect of swimming ... that in performing this sport, you are alone and together, simultaneously, in your event.
The facilities were adequate... but I was so excited to be part of a sports team that a bucket of warm water with a string, and bar of soap would have satisfied me , and the pool far exceeded the antique YMCA I had experienced in my youth.
We interacted with the men’s coach, Dave Thomas, at various times. He was very adept at coaching the men’s team - several of us worked out with the men’s team as well as the women’s, to expedite our proficiency ; we had a female coach, Gladys Walling, who was very supportive of us, and certainly created a safe and encouraging environment in which our vision and goals flourished. She also invited us to experience Synchronized Swimming during the off-season.
The concept of a competitive Women’s Swim Team blossomed into the sought-after dream of becoming a competitive Women’s Swim Team, under Janet Hill, my junior and senior year. Janet was coach, counselor, surrogate parent, and caring friend. She was pivotal to the emergence of the SUNY Binghamton Women’s Swim Team, competitive in Upstate NY and NE Conferences!
In retrospect, what was lacking significantly, and in part due to an era where emotional growth and stability were not even a topic, was crisis intervention and critical incident stress management. The student athlete was stressed on two fronts... academic and athletic... with nowhere to turn for psychological guidance. We went through the Vietnam War.. worrying if our brothers would be drafted; even worse, what would happen as they were shipped overseas; we saw the inception of violence at our own educational institution, when two female students in my sister’s dorm were hospitalized with fractured skulls after a brutal on-campus attack. The only upside of that deficit, and perhaps the outstanding takeaway memory of my swim team-club involvement was how we stood together as sisters in spirit, always providing support and acceptance for our teammates in crisis. I will have to include our awesome brothers on the men’s swim team, who had our backs during college, and some, for many years after...Dan, Gil, Steve, Bart, to name but a few.
What are some of your lasting memories or relationships that blossomed because of swimming at Harpur?
There was a marked change for the better when Janet Hill took over, and remodeled an enthusiastic club into a highly competitive team... a palpable change for the better, by the time of my graduation!!! Accolades to so many amazing women, who are such a beloved and inspiring memory... first and foremost, my dearest lifelong friend, Liz (O'Connell), our mutual friend and team cheerleader/support staff Donita, Ellie, Jane, and many more whose names escape me at this moment...I am beyond proud to have been contacted for the 50th Year Celebration!!!! The SUNY B WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM EXPERIENCE gave me the fortitude to forge my my own way through the rest of my life!!! The skills that I used to succeed, in every way, I learned from YOU!!!
Here is my take-away lesson that I attribute to the original Harpur Women’s Swim Club: In order to win, you... and everyone else on your Team... has to FINISH, First!!!
