Hartwick College Establishes Swimming & Diving Fund with $100,000 Gift from
Paul and Mary Beth Windrath
Hartwick College has announced the creation of a new Swimming & Diving Fund, established through a $100,000 gift from former assistant coach Paul Windrath and his wife, Mary Beth. The fund will provide long-term support for the program, with potential uses including funding the team’s annual training trip, purchasing new equipment, and making improvements to facilities.
Windrath served as Hartwick’s assistant swimming and diving coach for six years beginning in 2007 and later continued, in a limited capacity, for two more years. He recalled his time at the College as being full of wonderful memories of administrators, educators and coaches working together to provide the best possible experience for students. “Hartwick was good to me and I always felt at home,” he said. “The Swimming & Diving Fund honors the past, present and future of the program and provides a meaningful way for past and future alums to support the program that significantly impacted their Hartwick College experience.”
Executive Director of Athletics Paul Vecchio expressed gratitude for the Windraths’ commitment and highlighted how the fund will shape the future of the program, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.. “For decades, Hartwick swimming and diving has built memories that last a lifetime,” he said. “This new fund will ensure that future student-athletes share in those same opportunities, carrying forward a tradition that connects past, present and future Hawks.”
The announcement comes as Hartwick prepares to welcome alumni, families and friends back to campus for True Blue Weekend, including the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction ceremony. The timing highlights the significance of honoring the program’s past while investing in its future, which is why the Windraths chose to accelerate their plans in keeping with their philosophy of “Giving while Living.”
With that mindset, they established the fund in large part to honor this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, including Head Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive Coach Dale Rothenberger, the 1991–92 men’s swim and dive team, and diving alumni Lindsay Bowker ’14 and Mark Phillips ’06.
“This is a legacy gift, but also a call to action,” said Rothenberger. “Paul and Mary Beth have created a foundation for others to join them in supporting swimming and diving, ensuring our program continues to thrive for generations.”
Alumni, families, and friends are invited to contribute to the Swimming & Diving Fund and help carry forward the team’s proud tradition. Gifts can be made to the Hartwick College Swimming & Diving Fund here.
