NEW PALTZ — SUNY New Paltz senior Claudine Gruver closed her spectacular collegiate swimming career over the weekend at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at Miami University of Ohio. And she did it in familiar fashion — with a record-breaking swim. Gruver, a Binghamton native, finished second in the 200-yard Backstroke with a lifetime-best time of 2:03.23, which broke her own New Paltz and State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) records. Earlier in the three-day meet, Gruver took second place in the 100-yard Backstroke (57.44), and placed 12th in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:10.03). All three events broke New Paltz and SUNYAC records, and made Gruver the first female swimmer in school history to earn All-America status. Diver Karen Adams was the only other New Paltz female to obtain All-America recognition in 1992.
This season, Gruver won seven Eastern College Athletic Conference and six SUNYAC titles, and broke a total of 76 records, including breaking at least one record in every meet she swam. She won a remarkable 36 of 48 events this season. Thursday’s 200-yard Individual Medley was the only time all season she didn’t finish in the top two. Gruver transferred to New Paltz from Division II Kutztown University last summer, and was the 1997 Division II National Champion in the 100 and 200-yard Backstroke. She is a 1995 Chenango Forks High graduate.
