College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Inducts 5 Ephs Into Inaugural Hall of Fame Class

In photo above from left, Caroline Wilson '13; Logan Todhunter '12; Liz Jex '83; Lindsay Payne '05; and, representing retired coach Carl Samuelson's son Matthew.
 
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Four Williams women's swimming alumni and retired Coach Carl Samuelson have been inducted into the new CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame, the second-highest total of honorees among the 17 institutions represented in the inaugural class.
 
Liz Jex '83, Lindsay Payne '05, Logan Todhunter '12 and Caroline Wilson '13 all were present May 6 at the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America annual awards dinner in Indianapolis to receive their recognition.
 
Samuelson, now 92 and unable to travel, was represented by his son, Matthew.
 
"This Hall of Fame stands as a tribute to the remarkable careers and accomplishments of swimmers, divers and coaches who have played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of collegiate swimming and diving at the Division III level," said Samantha Barany, CSCAA's executive director.
 
"The inductees will be celebrated not only for their exceptional athletic careers but also for their enduring impact on our sport, their teams, and their institutions," Barany said.
 
Jex, Payne, Todhunter and Wilson are major contributors to a tradition of excellence in Williams women's swimming and diving, a program that won NCAA Division III titles in 1982 and 1983 and finished fourth at nationals as recently as 2023 and 2024.
 
The program, under Coach Steve Kuster, is currently riding a dual meet streak of 135 wins against Division III opponents, last losing in 2008.
 
Samuelson, coach of swimming at Williams from 1966 to 1998, started the women's program in the early 1970s and brought it to varsity status in the 1975-1976 season. He coached both national title teams and won Division III national coach of the year honors three times.
 
With five of the 34 members of the hall's first induction class, Williams trailed only Kenyon College's 10. Amherst College, the Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, San Diego, each had three honorees.
 
Here are details on the careers of the Williams inductees:
 
Liz Jex '83
Hailed by the CSCAA "the first superstar of Division III women's swimming." Swept the 50- and 100-yard freestyles in each of her four years and totaled 12 individual national titles, including wins in the 50 free, 100 fly and 100 IM. The 1982 and 1983 Division III Co-Swimmer of the Year. Led the Ephs to two NCAA titles.


 
Lindsay Payne '05
Olympic Trials finalist in 2008, finishing seventh in the 100-meter breaststroke. 2006 recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award for overcoming childhood leukemia to become a champion swimmer and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier. Seven-time NCAA Division III breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley champ, multiple DIII record breaker, and 2005 and 2006 Division III Swimmer of the Year.
 
Carl Samuelson, Coach
Williams coach from 1966 to 1998. Three-time CSCAA national DIII coach of the year. His teams won the first two DIII women's national titles. His swimmers achieved All-America status 340 times, captured 39 individual and 23 relay NCAA titles and broke multiple NCAA records. He is on the CSCAA 100 Greatest Coaches list. His teams won New England or NESCAC championships a combined 27 times.
 
Logan Todhunter '12
Olympic Trials qualifier, 2012. Won 11 NCAA DIII individual titles in the 100 and 200 fly and the 200 IM, set five DIII records, won 2010 and 2012 Division III Swimmer of the Year awards.
 
Caroline Wilson '13
Olympic Trials qualifier, 2012. Won 11 NCAA Division III titles, set Division III records in the 500 and 1,650 free and the 200 and 400 IM. 2013 Division III Swimmer of the Year.
 
Story courtesy of Dennis O'Shea '77
 
Photos by Jim Cornell '72