…a swimmer of distinction…a medal winner at the Nationals.
Claudia (Cronin) Schlote, of the class of 1974, was one of the finest swimmers ever to represent Acadia, often ranking first or second at the national level in the free-style events.
Among her many outstanding accomplishments in the pool were these moments as recorded in Hurrah Acadia:
“In ’70-’71, Claudia Cronin …became.the first woman in the Atlantic Intercollegiate Conference to break the 60 second mark in the 100-yard free-style -being timed at 58.1.
That season, too, for the first time ever, the women were represented at the C.I.A.U. meet -with Claudia and Janice Mattson earning second-place finishes at this national event.”
“In ’71-’72, Acadia swim teams -for the first time in years defeated Mt. Allison at an invitational meet. Individually, Cronin, Mattson, Judy Winchester, and Randy Roth were the top point getters.”
“Later, that season, the Axettes placed an impressive second at the A.U.A.A. meet.”
“In ’72-’73 Claudia and Chuck Cronin were voted captains of their respective swim teams. In one of the very few meets ever organized at Acadia, with U.N.B. and Memorial the guests, both teams were triumphant as the Cronin talent was on full display. At the championship meet held at Mt. Allison, the men placed first and the women second as the Cronins, Rick Boyd, Howard Hills, Brad Wetmore, and Janice Mattson each established records in their special events.”
“The ’73-’74 season -and Claudia’s last in the Axette garb -saw Jack Scholz appear as the new swimming instructor succeeding coaches Watts and Spasoff. Sharing the spotlight that season with such outstanding performers as Mattson, Roth, Charlotte Rogers, Pat Maybank, and Vicki Robinson, Claudia Cronin continued to excel, helping Acadia to place third in the talent-packed Atlantic Open championship event.”
“Intimately, of course, Acadia women’s swim teams instructed by Jack Scholz were to capture a couple of national titles and individuals were destined to establish Canadian records. Yet, on an individual basis, the Atlantic Conference records established by Claudia Cronin and her repeatedly outstanding performances at the Nationals in the free-style events make her a popular choice for induction to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame.
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome her back to the campus for this ceremony.
