1972
1996
1976
Patricia Panichas,
Sandra J. Thielz, ’68, was a judge at the Olympic Games in 1984 and 1996, and went on to initiate the Muriel Davis Grossfeld Endowed Gymnastics Scholarship, which was supported by numerous alumni. Thielz was a faculty member and the women’s gymnastics coach at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She was inducted into the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame on October 12, 2012.
’74, M.S. ’78, 6th Yr. ’85, who coached the Owls’ women’s gymnastics team for 28 seasons, was the only U.S. judge selected to participate at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. She won the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics All-Around Title in 1968 and qualified for the Olympic Team trials in 1972, competing with Cathy Rigby. She retired from coaching the Owls in 2004, but remained a member of the exercise science faculty.
As head coach of the USA Olympic water polo team from 1992-96, Richard J. Corso, ’77, led his team to within one goal of the medal round in Atlanta at the 1996 games. The team lost to Spain, the ultimate gold medalist. Corso was also the goalkeeper coach for the silver-medal winning 1984 and the 2004 Olympic teams.
Joan Bonvicini, ’75, was a finalist for the 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, and went on to a successful coaching career. She is the head women’s basketball coach for Seattle University.
1988
Joan Van Ness, ’80, who ranks among Southern’s all-time women’s basketball scorers with 1,272 points, was a finalist in the Olympic trials.
2012
2004
Swimmer Ben Michaelson, ’03, placed third at the 2004 Olympic trials in the 100-meter butterfly, narrowly missing a spot on the team. Michaelson finished behind Ian Crocker, whose time of 50.76 set a world record, and Michael Phelps, who won 22 medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 games.
Alexandra Earl-Givan, ’94, was the first gold medalist in the women’s hammer throw at the Pan-American Games, and competed in the Olympic trials for the event.
Soccer star Brian Bliss, ’87, a four-year starter and three-time captain at Southern, was a member of Team USA at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Before attending Southern,
Katrina Radke, M.F.T. ’97, was an internationally recognized swimmer who placed fifth in the 200-meter butterfly at the 1988 Olympics. She later overcame mononucleosis and a debilitating case of chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, and went on to compete in the 2004 Olympic trials. Radke is a therapist, college psychology instructor, and peak performance and health coach. She is also a motivational speaker and the author of “Be Your Best Without the Stress.”
Student-athlete Amanda Thomas qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympic trials in the 400-yard individual medley. She finished with a time of 5:04.34. Although Thomas didn’t make the Olympic Team, she was the 2012 NCAA Div. II Swimmer of the Year. Track standout Selasi Lumax qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials by winning the 800 meters at the New England Championships. Lumax, who has dual citizenship in Ghana and the United States, went on to compete in the African Track and Field Championships as a representative of Ghana. He placed third in his heat.
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