Lakehead University

The 1974-75 Women's Swim Team of Kerri Rock (Skilling), Wanda Wright (DePape), Andrea Burgelis (Kerr) and Pat Gibson made a huge splash in the pool for Lakehead University.

The squad, coached by Lakehead Wall of Fame Inductee Don Talbot, was small in numbers, having only four swimmers, but huge in results and achievements.  That season, the team set seven CWIAU (now CIS) individual records and two team records.  Team Captain Kerri Rock (Skilling) set five of the seven national records, Depape and Kerr one apiece.   All four members, of course, were involved in setting the two four-swimmer team relay national records.

 

The squad were GPAC (Great Plains Athletics Conference) Champions and then put in one of the greatest team performances in Lakehead Athletics history and one of the best ever at a Canadian collegiate national swimming championships.  It was also one of the greatest team athletic performances ever achieved on the Lakehead campus. 

 
The event was the CIAU (now CIS) national championships hosted by Lakehead from February 28 to March 1, 1975.  With their small but mighty squad of only four swimmers; the ladies won 10 of the 15 events swam. 

Kerri Rock (Skilling) won three golds at the nationals; in the 200, 400, and 800 yard freestyle events.  She won the 800 yards by a whopping 41 seconds; meaning she was approximately 3 lengths of the pool ahead of the next competitor. 

Andrea Burgelis (Kerr) won the 50 freestyle and the 200 fly event.  Wanda Wright (Depape) won the 200 backstroke and the 400 individual medley and was second in the 100 backstroke.  Pat Gibson won the 200 individual medley and was third in the 100 and 200 fly.  The four ladies also won both relays; the 400 yard medley relay (by over 5 seconds) and the 400 freestyle relay (by over 10 seconds).

Unfortunately, Lakehead’s mighty swimmers lost the overall women's title to the University of Alberta, because of the small size of the Lakehead team.  However, the dynamic quartet definitely dominated their races and the national championships. Kerri Skilling was named CWIAU national championships MVP for her three individual and two team victories.

Team member Wanda Wrigth (Depape) said she has great memories of a magical team and a magical season.  “Of course the fondest memories I have of swimming at L.U. is the smell of chlorine!  Just kidding, the real fond memories I have are of all the people I met along the way; many of whom I still keep in touch with and some who are no longer with us.”

 

EVENT SWIMMER TIME 
      
50 FREE (YD) ANDREA KERR  :25.09 CWIAU RECORD
100 FREE (YD) KERRI SKILLING  :54.4 CWIAU RECORD
200 FREE (YD) KERRI SKILLING 1.54.1 CWIAU RECORD
400 FREE (YD) KERRI SKILLING 3:59.6 CWIAU RECORD
800 FREE (YD) KERRI SKILLING 8:12.9 CWIAU RECORD
400 FR. RELAY (YD) DEPAPE, GIBSON,   
  KERRI SKILLING 3:40.9 CWIAU RECORD
200 BACK (YD) WANDA DEPAPE 2:12.9 CWIAU RECORD
100 FLY (YD) ANDREA KERR 1:00.5 CWIAU RECORD
400 IM RELAY (YD) DEPAPE, GIBSON   
  KERR, SKILLING 4:11.8 CWIAU RECORD