BETH A. DONOVAN

1994 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

           Competing for the Barrington YMCA and the Grist Mill, Beth won the All-Point trophy for girls 8 and under at meets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and Gardner, Massachusetts, and was ranked first by the New England AAU swim coaches in the 25 yard freestyle, 25 yard butterfly, 50 yard freestyle, and the 100 yard IM.

A member of the Seekonk Dolphins swim team and the Kendbrin Summer team, Beth became the RI State champion for girls 9 and 10 in the 100 yard 1M and the 50 yard backstroke. She was named the Outstanding Girl Swimmer at the Kendbrin Swim and Tennis club in 1975 and won the one meter diving for girls Il and 12.

In 1976, Beth placed first in the 100 yard backstroke at the RI State championships and in one meter diving for girls 12 and under at the Narragansett Swim League.

Beth was the first female in RI to win an Interscholastic title in coed swimming, in one meter diving, in 1981. She earned the Ray Biber and the Providence Journal-Bulletin All State Awards for diving and was named to the RI Interscholastic All-State first team. In 1982 she repeated as state champion in diving.

While competing at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York, Beth received the Freshman Varsity Award in swimming, was named the Most Valuable team member in her sophomore year and served as team captain her Junior and Senior years. Under coach Paula Milter, she placed first in diving in the ICAC, and first in one meter and three meter diving at the NY SAIAW swimming and diving championships. She was awarded the Ithaca College Medal of Merit as outstanding in academics and athletics. At Ithaca, Beth earned seven of a possible eight All-America honors in diving.

Beth has served as diving coach at Ithaca High School and at Attleboro High School for the girls’ swim teams, and at URI, for the men’s and women’s teams.