University of Vermont Athletics

Patricia deMarcken Sullivan 1983 - Swimming

UVM's top female swimmer in the history of the program, Patsy deMarcken Sullivan is the first Vermont swimmer - male or female - to earn All-American honors in that sport. deMarcken Sullivan, who was inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame in 1993, established 12 individual varsity records while an undergraduate, six of which stood for 20 or more years.

deMarcken Sullivan was accorded All-America honors at the AIAW Division II National Championships when she placed 6th in the 1,650 freestyle and was 8th in the 400-yard individual medley in 1981. At the New Englands earlier that season, she finished first in four events, including a New England record-setting performance in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Arguably the top freestyler in New England in the early 1980s, deMarcken Sullivan set six marks in the UVM record books are: 400 freestyle - 4:16.74; 500 freestyle - 5:11.92; 800 freestyle - 8:37.46; 1000 freestyle - 10:40.54; 1,650 freestyle - 17:35.20 and 400 individual medley - 4:42.11.

At the Senior Letterwinners banquet in 1983, deMarcken Sullivan was presented the Semans Trophy, awarded to the male and female members of the senior class who are outstanding in the respect and regard of their fellow students for leadership, loyalty and service to the University, and for active participation in athletics. After graduation she married Kevin Sullivan '82, an outstanding swimmer on the Catamount men's team who also is a member of the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame.