U.S. Olympian Kathleen Hersey is one of five figures inducted into the Georgia Aquatic Hall of Fame over the weekend.
Hersey, a Georgia native and SwimAtlanta club swimmer who went on to star for the University of Texas, made the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams in the 200 butterfly.
She’s joined by 1960s high school standout Donna Humphrey Quinn, 1996 Olympian Carlton Bruner, Cuban ex-pat and longtime coach Carlos DeCubas and 1950s SEC star and Masters national record-holder Dr. Hal Stolz.
The full list of inductees is below:
Donna Humphrey Quinn
was an outstanding high school swimmer during the 1960’s; she participated in both Senior National Championships and the 1968 Olympic Trials. Donna was coached by fellow Hall of Famer, Pete Higgins, and she excelled at backstroke events. Donna was a four year state champion in the 100 yard backstroke and set the national record in 1967. She attended Duke University; however, was unable to continue swimming because Duke did not have a women’s team.
Carlton Bruner
was a club swimmer for the Dynamo Swim Club and continued his swimming career at the University of Florida. While a collegiate swimmer, Carlton was a 5 time All American and a 2 time SEC champion in the 1650 yard freestyle. Additionally, Carlton competed in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta finishing 13th in the 1500 meter freestyle. He was a five time National Champion in the 1500 meter freestyle at USA National Championships. Carlton competed in the Pan Pacific games, the World Championships, and the Pan Am games. He won gold at the Pan Am games in the 1500 meter freestyle in 1995.
Carlos DeCubas
began his career as the Olympic swimming and diving coach in Cuba. Desiring to leave Cuba after Castro gained control, Carlos escaped with his family to the USA. Although his initial job in America was a deck boy at the Dunes Hotel in Miami Beach, Carlos later returned to his passion of coaching both swimming and diving. Carlos coached at the Ansley Golf Club, the Atlanta Athletic Club, Birmingham Southern, and Georgia Tech. Carlos coached both Jenny Chandler Stevenson and Billy Heinz, fellow Hall of Famers.
Kathleen Hersey
attended Marist High School and swam for Swim Atlanta. While at Marist, Kathleen broke the national high school records in both the 100 yard butterfly and the 200 yard individual medley. Kathleen continued winning titles at the University of Texas; she won eleven Big 12 conference titles and was a 7 time All American. Additionally, Kathleen was a five time USA National Champion in the 200 yard butterfly and the 200 meter butterfly. Kathleen represented the USA in numerous international competitions including both the 2008 Bejing Olympic games and the 2012 Olympic games in London. In London, Kathleen finished 4th in the 200 meter butterfly.
Dr. Hal Stolz
attended North Fulton High School and broke the Georgia state record in the 100 yard breaststroke in 1950 and again in 1952 while swimming for the Georgia Military Academy. Hal continued his swimming career at the University of Georgia winning SEC titles in the 200 yard breaststroke and the 200 yard butterfly in 1955. In 1956, Hal won three SEC titles. Stolz continued to swim in Masters Competitions and has attained over 123 National top ten rankings in breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley events. He currently holds national records in both the 400 meter Medley Relay and the 200 Medley Relay.
Deservedly so. Congratulations, Kathleen!