The University of Michigan was a factor on the national scene in swimming and diving for over a decade between 1987-98.  One of the most dominating forces in Big Ten history, the Michigan swimming and diving team took 12-straight conference championships from 1987-98, also earning 12 top-10 finishes in the NCAA Championships. 

Wolverines have earned a total of 164 Big Ten and nine NCAA individual and relay titles over the era, making them the most successful team in conference swimming history.  At the 1995 NCAA Championships, the Wolverines became the first team other than Stanford, Texas and Florida to finish in the top three, finishing second to Stanford after claiming the lead upon completion of the second day. The team finished just 19 points out of first place.

Two-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Year Alecia Humphrey earned her place in the conference record books by becoming the league's first swimmer to win three NCAA Championships in 1995 when she won titles in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke and 400-yard medley relay.  The conference's first three-time national champion came in diving, when Mary Fischbach swept the one-meter, three-meter and platform at the 1988 NCAA meet. 

Humphrey holds the conference championship record in the 200-yard backstroke, an event she won in each of her four years along with the 100-yard back.  Jenny Crisman repeated the feat with four titles of her own from 1992-95 in the 100-yard backstroke and Shannon Shakespeare added four-straight in the 200-yard individual medley from 1997-2000, becoming only the second and third Michigan individuals, respectively, to win an event four times.  Shakespeare still holds two meet records for the conference championship; one in the 100-yard freestyle, which her time of 48.80 is tied with fellow Wolverine Lindsey Smith, and in the 200-yard individual medley.

The Wolverines have been the most dominant in the five relay events at the conference championships, winning a total 43 relay titles.  Eight-straight top finishes in the 400-yard medley relay from 1989-96 highlight the Maize and Blue dominance, as well as six-year streaks in both the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. 

Five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Jim Richardson has mentored 57 athletes to a total of 126 All-Big Ten first-team selections.  They include four-time honorees Mindy Gehrs (1990-93), Humphrey (1992-95), Rachel Gustin (1994-98), Melisa Stone (1994-97), Taylor Bendel (1995-98), Kim Johnson (1995-98) Jen Eberwein (1996-99), Shakespeare (1997-2000), Crisman (1998-2001) and Melissa Sugar (1998-2001).  In addition, five other Wolverines have garnered Swimmer of the Year honors, three have earned Diver of the Year and one Freshman of the Year. 

Big Ten 25 Years of Women's Championships

Printer-friendly format	Email this article