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The Bombers posted top-10 finishes in the Upper New York State Swimming Association (UNYSSA) championship in 11 of 14 years through the 1979-80 season, but a schedule that included a number of upper-
division opponents held the team’s dual-meet mark below the .500 level.
An individual standout during that time was diver Scott Handler, a 1976 all-American in the one- and three-meter competitions. Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame member Bill Ware coached the team during its first 16 seasons. His final two seasons resulted in 7-6 and 13-3 dual-meet records and seventh- and sixth-place finishes at the state meet.
Following Ware as coach was Jim Perkins, who guided the Bombers to a 28-9 mark while going 24-7
with the women’s swimming team during the same time. In his first season with Ithaca, Perkins led the team to sixth at the UNYSSA meet and completed the slate in the NCAA Division III championship, where the Bombers finished 18th. It was the first time Ithaca had placed at the NCAA meet. Freestyle specialist Don McVeigh was a star of that team, finishing with three all-American honors.
Perkins may have done his finest work in 1982-83, when he led the team to a 12-1 dual-meet record, a
second-place finish at the UNYSSA meet and 20th place at the NCAA championship. Dick Comanzo, Ithaca’s most successful diver, earned all-American honors in the one- and three-meter events at the national competition.
Paula Miller was next in line to coach the Bombers and set a new standard for success during her three years. The Bombers went 29-5 in dual-meet competition and placed in the top four in the UNYSSA championship all three seasons. In addition, Ithaca broke into the top 10 at the NCAA championship for the first time, placing ninth in 1985-86. Pacing the team to its best finish ever were two-event all-Americans Brian Bennett, Chris Martin, Bryan Rice, John Van Cott and Clayton York. Martin completed his career with a school-record 15 all-American finishes.
When Miller left the men’s program to concentrate solely on the women’s team, current coach Kevin Markwardt picked up on her success. Under Markwardt, the Bombers have placed in the top five at the state meet 15 times in 17 years and have compiled a 206-31 dual-meet record. Rob D’Alessandro posted two top-five results at the 1988 NCAA meet and graduated with 13 all-American honors. Another top performer was Jeff Ungvary, a 10-time all-American.
Ithaca posted a perfect 14-0 dual-meet record in 1990-91. Thanks in part to the efforts of Dan Guerrera, an eight-time all-American, the Bombers were state runners-up and 14th at the Division III championship that season.
In 1995-96 Ithaca went 13-0 with Herlihy and Todd Poludniak earning their fourth and fifth all-American honors, respectively. The following year the Bombers finished 10-4, placing 24th at the national championship with four athletes combining for nine all-American honors. Over the next three seasons the Bombers placed fourth, fourth and sixth, respectively, at the UNYSCSA championship, with three swimmers earning all-American honors.
In the past four seasons Ithaca has won three UNYSCSA titles and two of three Empire 8 titles. The Bombers have only lost two dual meets and have posted two undefeated seasons.
Ithaca finished 13-1 during the 2000-01 season, winning the state championship for the first time in the
program’s history. In the 2001-02 season, Ithaca finished with a perfect 16-0 record for the third time ever, repeating as state champions and winning the program’s eighth conference title.
Steve Barnes earned all-America honors, placing 15th in the 1,650-yard freestyle. In 2002-03 the Bombers compiled a 15-1 record and finished runner-up in the conference and at the UNYSCSA championship.
A year later Ithaca won its third state and conference championship and posted a perfect 15-0 dual meet record. Barnes earned all-American honors in the 1,650-yard freestyle for the second time in his career with a 12th place finish at nationals. The 800-yard freestyle relay team also earned all-America honors.