A Record Relived: NP’s Oldest Varsity Swimming Record
“I’ll never forget getting to Emory University for the 1984 Division III NCAA Finals and being so intimidated. Mark and I were Seniors so this was our last chance at making All America. Art (coach) got us to the pool the day before. Our ranking was pretty low, so we did not think we had a chance. But looking from the stands we saw a 6′ x 6′ Banner on the pool deck and it said “Yeah Baby Yeah”, initially we all thought’ who stole our cheer?’. But we went down to investigate, the NP Women’s Swimmers had just been there for their NCAA Finals and hung this Banner for us. It was at that moment all my nerves and intimidation went out the window, we went onto make All America and a 25 year record!”
– Brian Hanratty
It was 1984. Last year, a runner up finish at the Metropolitan conference championships had ended NP athletics’ greatest dynasty– 4 straight team championships–and the team was focused and dedicated as they approached the final meets of the season. It was this year that the quartet of Paul Strothenke, Paul Robbins, Mark Schoenherr, and Brian Hanratty set a mark of 3:09.09 in the 400 Freestyle Relay. This record still stands today as the oldest remaining varsity record on the board. As this milestone reaches its 25th (and final!) year, we take a look back and relive the memory of this season. Who better to tell this story than the hall of fame coach himself, Art Stockin…
From Art Stockin—legendary swimming coach @ New Paltz
It’s funny how things happen. I guess we all need the how’s of why things happen, even if they are one person’s theory. We all seem to have a basic need to have things explained. Here is my explanation of the record setting 400 yd. Free Relay.
We didn’t have any idea at the time that that relay set the record, that it would stand up all of these years. In fact, that was probably the farthest thing from our thinking. We were all caught up in the moment. As you all know, the 400 free relay is the last event on the college dual meet as well as championship schedule of events. That occurrence in itself is quite prophetic. Whether the designer was that clever or whether it was just happenstance is as mysterious as how Doubleday came up with 90 feet as the perfect distance from home plate to 1st base. Anyway, the 400 free relay so many times becomes the exclamation point of a meet, a season, or a career.
For three seasons in the early 80’s, our teams had one loss seasons, all three of those losses came at the hands of West Point and all came down to the last leg of the 400 yd. free relay. All four members of the 1984 record setting relay had suffered the frustration of seeing a perfect season dashed by West Point. That relay team, although they won the Metropolitan Conference Championship 400 relay, lost the overall championship to their evil opponents from Stony brook. They were frustrated, but they weren’t defeated.
In struggle and loss, character is developed. Perseverance seems to be the one trait that will eventually spell success. Ironically, it is not always talent that wins. Of course the four members of that relay had individual talent, but a relay is special. It is a beautiful thing to see when it clicks and an awful experience if it doesn’t. Relays are my favorite part of swimming. They are one short of a basketball team and they must play as a team. Nothing brings you to the front of your seat more than a meet deciding relay.
That relay of four men had lost and developed character along the way. They had persevered and were out to prove one last time that they really were winners. They even believed that they could go 3:06 if they put it all together. Strothenke, Robbins, and Hanratty had all made All-American in individual events multiple times but Schoenherr, although, qualifying for individual events , had never achieved an All-American award. This was his last chance and he was going to do his part if it killed him. This group had a team bond and a love for each other that ran much deeper than individual achievement. Without saying it, deep down they wanted to get this for Schoenherr.
Strothenke, although our most decorated All-American, was ironically the slowest member of that team. The distance was just to short for him. But his fight was incredible! We led off with him. He always closed the gap on his last length. Robbins went second. He was our fastest swimmer. He was just fast and he really believed he could beat anybody. He made up for anything that Stro may have given away. He turned it over to Schoenherr in clean water. Now it was up to our two seniors, Schoenherr and Hanratty. Schoenherr knew this spot like the back of his hand. He had swam 100 yds over his career more than any other event. He had missed turns and won touch outs and had been touched out. He had been on numerous championship teams and on numerous championship relays. He had filed it all away and had matured as a swimmer and as a person along the way. On his leg it all clicked. He studied the walls on each turn and concentrated on details like holding his breathing pattern and the drive to the finish. He did his part. He swam a career best 100 in the last race of his career. Now it was up to Hanratty. Hanratty was a perfect specimen. Perfect body, perfect stroke, a perfectionist. He was never satisfied. He always thought he could do better. Above all, he was the ultimate competitor, the ideal guy to have at the end of your relay. As one team member described him, “He would give everything away to a competitor but the finish.” He knew how to get his hand on the wall. That, I think he was born with! They finished in 3:09.09. They could have been faster but I think they were conservative on their takeoffs, fearful of being D.Q’d.
It was a moment I have clearly recalled all of these years. I am sure they have also. It was one of those moments in time, three minutes and nine seconds that will last a lifetime. I love those guys. They loved each other and that experience at Emory University. They persevered and were successful.
Paul Strothenke lives and works in New Paltz, NY. He is the owner of Mid- Hudson VIP, a employee benefits / health insurance agency. He and his wife Mary have three children – Dan (sophomore @ Geneseo), Luke (senior @ NP high school) and Mark (sophomore @ NP high school).
Paul Robbins works for Godsell construction company in Manhatten and lives on Long Island. His record in the 50 free was just broken last season.
Brian Hanratty works for Pitney Bowes in Stamford, CT in their Corporate Real Estate Department as Project Manager handling Lease Transactions.
The 400 Free Relay Team (1984)
Tags: Brian Hanratty, Mark Schoenherr, New Paltz swimming, Paul Robbins, Paul Strothenke