When Bill Humphreys '94 came to campus in the fall of 1990, little did he know that he would be the first of several swimmers from the same small high school who would lead Union to national prominence.
Following Bill from New Hartford (N.Y.) were his brother Mike '97, Kevin Makarowski '97, Mark Anderson '98, and Jeff Hoerle '99.
The quartet has helped Union put together a record-setting regular-season mark of 7-1. As of mid-February, the team was looking to defend its New York State championship and improve on last year's fourth-place finish in the NCAA Division III meet. This year's championships will be held in Atlanta, and Bill, who works as an engineer for the Moreland Altobelli Company in Atlanta, will be there to root for his alma mater.
“I went to Ohio last year, so this year's meet will be in my backyard,” Humphreys says. Bill was an All-American who set Union records in three butterfly events and still owns the Dutchmen standard in the 100meter butterfly (51.75). His positive academic, athletic, and social experience at the College was a primary reason that Mike, Kevin, Mark, and Jeff came to Union.
“I had a good, all-around experience,” he says. “Swimming helped me develop a sound work ethic, and my education gave me a good foundation for what I needed when I went out into what has been a very tough job market.”
While Bill and his teammates pointed Union in the right direction, it is the current group of New Hartford graduates who have helped take the team to the next level.
Last year, Makarowski became the first Dutchman ever to win a national title when he captured the 200-meter individual medley in a Union record 1:52.77. He also picked up All-American status (by finishing in the top eight) in the 400 individual medley, where he was fifth.
Anderson had Union's next best performance as he took second in the 100-meter breaststroke (57.17, a Union record) while Humphreys placed third in the 100-meter backstroke (51.52). Anderson also captured sixth in the 200-meter breaststroke while Humphreys was seventh
in the 200-meter backstroke.
The three also were part of the second-place 200-meter and 400-meter medley relay teams.
In all, the New Hartford
trio came into this year holding eleven of Union's individual records and were three-fourths of two record-setting relay teams. In addition, Makarowski and Mike Humphreys are half of Union's record-setting 200meter and 400-meter freestyle relay teams.
“They are very talented swimmers who have a great deal of knowledge about the sport,” says head coach Judy Wolfe. “All of them are very willing to help the younger swimmers get to know themselves and their sport.”
Because each of the four specializes in different events, the Dutchmen are able to pick up a good number of points in the individual races. What's more, their knowledge of each other's styles has been a benefit to Wolf and the team in the medley relays.
“They have been swimming together at one point or another for the last five or six years,” Wolfe says. “They know each other's starts and strokes, and that is a big advantage for them and for the team.”
The 1995-96 dual meet season saw Makarowski finish undefeated in his individual races. He was also unbeaten in the relay events when swimming with his hometown teammates. Hoerle won nine of his thirteen individual races and Humphreys captured eight of ten races. Anderson won three individual races and was second five times.
“These guys don't like to lose,” Wolfe says. “They have set high goals for themselves and for the team. They give 100 percent of themselves all the time, and that certainly makes my job as a coach much easier.”
Bill continues to keep track of Union swimming and is, of course, particularly interested in what the four New Hartford
graduates are doing.
“I'm real proud of what those guys have accomplished,” he says. “When I first started at Union the program was shaky at best. By the time my class graduated, we were third in the state. I'm proud to have been a part of that and am happy to see the success the program has achieved.”