50th Anniversary of Women's Athletics at Binghamton University
Profile: Liz O'Connell, 1969-73
Brief: A native of Lynbrook, N.Y., Liz O'Connell came to Binghamton in 1969 and swam four years - the first four years of the program's varsity history. Originally a diver, O'Connell was thrust into a swimming role when only five student-athletes came to the first team practice. An eventual two-time captain and team MVP, she excelled in the 100 and 200 freestyle events and the free relays. She was the first female recipient of the John Bilos Alumni Award for athletics excellence in 1973. In addition to swimming, she served as a Resident Assistant and also was a member of the cheer team for two years. O'Connell graduated in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric and went on to earn a master's degree at Penn State and her PhD at Loyola University of Chicago. From there, she embarked on a long career in higher education, serving in administrative posts within academic affairs at several universities. She has given back to the University by serving on the Binghamton Alumni Board from 1991 to 1996. Athletically, she transitioned from swimming to distance running, sprint distance triathlons, competitive sailing and now in retirement in the Tampa, Fla. area, a sport called dragon boat racing. O'Connell and a few friends established an organization called Team Survivor Tampa Bay, a non-profit corporation that provides "support through sport" for women who have had cancer. The organization's website is
here. The group's primary activity is dragon boat racing-a popular sport for breast cancer survivors in the U.S. (55 teams) and around the world (225 teams).
Reflections ...
It’s been 50 years since I joined the BU Women’s Varsity Swim Team, and I’m still a competitive athlete. That’s a testament to Coach Janet Hill, the foresight of the women’s athletic department, and the camaraderie of my teammates. In 1969 we were a Division III school–no recruiting, no scholarships. The men’s teams had recently moved over to the brand new “Men’s Gym,” and we had the “Women’s Gym” all to ourselves. During these turbulent years in the Women’s Movement, we were well aware of our unequal status, but we were thrilled to have what Virginia Woolf called “a room of one’s own.” In this pre-Title IX era, most of us came from high schools that had no teams for girls. So, having our own gym and coaches was quite a step up. In fact, I think that the independence this offered the women’s teams and coaches helped establish the strong presence that women’s athletics enjoys today at BU.
Before I arrived in the fall of 1969, there had been a club team for women swimmers under the direction of Gladys Walling, but that year it became a varsity sport. The university brought in Janet Hill, a new PE instructor and former swimmer from SUNY Brockport, to coach us. “Miss Hill” was young, enthusiastic, and inspiring. And she was optimistic enough to think she could create a team out of the five women who showed up that season. Of the five of us, Judy Finkelstein and Sue Lowenstein had been veterans of the swim club. Elvira Chiccarelli, Bonnie Welch and I were new.
What turned me into an athlete was our first swim team practice–just swim a mile. Seventy-two lengths of the pool; whatever stroke you want. I remember Miss Hill walking up and down the deck analyzing our strokes. Two critical things happened that day. I met Judy, a teammate and lifelong friend who swam an extra half mile to keep me company and encourage me. And I met a coach who taught me technique, discipline, leadership, and the enjoyment of sport.
During my four years on the team we saw a lot of firsts. During the 1970-71 season we were finally large enough to enter a swimmer and diver in every event at our meets! That year we sent seven swimmers to the NY State meet in Fredonia. JoAnn Crecco (50 breast), Janice DeWolfe (diving, 200 free relay), Judy Finkelstein (50 fly, 50 back), Liz O’Connell (100 & 200 free, 200 free relay), Elaine Ofenlock (200 free relay), Rhoda Sweitzer (50 & 100 breast), and Isabel Velez (50 & 100 back, 200 free relay). In 1972 we sent our first swimmer to the Eastern Regional Championships, Isabel Velez.
Janet Hill moved back to the Buffalo area after our 1971-72 season to marry and start a family. Many of us went to her wedding in 1973, and we were delighted to see her and her husband Dan Zorn in 2004 when the university celebrated the 35th anniversary of the team’s founding. Jeanne Mathias assumed coaching the team in 1972-73 season until a permanent coach was hired.
We all came from different backgrounds, lived in different dorms and residential colleges, and majored in different subjects, but we shared the experience of late afternoon practices, cheering each other on, trudging up the hill in the cold and dark to get to the dining hall on time, traveling to meets in terrible weather conditions, and yes, partying together!
Eventually, the women’s swim team started to receive some of the recognition enjoyed by the men’s teams. We were used to getting the hand-me-down warm-up suits from the men’s team. We were just happy to HAVE team warm-ups! In 1972 we got “Varsity Jackets” just like the men’s teams. Also, that year BU held the first Women’s Varsity Awards Dinner (later merged into the BU Annual Varsity Awards Program). By the time I graduated in 1973, two new awards were available to female athletes. The Alumni Association created the John Bilos Alumni Athletic Award which was presented to one male and one female graduating senior who “has shown outstanding performance in athletics.” In addition, the Reba Anthony Award was offered for the most valuable female swimmer. I was privileged to receive both awards that year.
In my thank-you note to the Foundation and Alumni Association for the Bilos award I wrote:
“It pleases me to see the growing concern you have shown for the female athletes of SUNY Binghamton. I hope that in the future this award may be a tangible incentive for athletic participation and excellence within the Women’s Varsity Athletic Program, and that it will help to bring our women’s athletic endeavors to the same level of recognition that the men’s athletic program enjoys.”
When we joined the team, we were just young, idealistic students who wanted to test our physical limits, meet new people, and have some fun. We didn’t know we were laying the foundation for what has now blossomed into a highly competitive and well-recognized intercollegiate athletic program. I’m sure I speak for me teammates and Janet Hill Zorn when I say that we are proud to be part of the legacy and we celebrate the continuing success of the women’s athletic teams.
