“...South Florida, which dominated the women's 39 team competition from the outset of the four-day meet, used seven first-place finishes – and four national records – to run away with its first swim title.”  Chris Harry, Tribune Sports Writer

The 1984-85 women's swimming team of Nancy Bercaw, Suzanne Crenshaw, Susan Duncan, Merit Greaves, Tracey Hayes, Dawn Hewitt, Alicia McHugh, Margaret Mortell, Julie Muller, Joni Troupe and head coach Bill Mann hold the honor of winning the first ever national championship for USF.  The team brought honor and prestige to their school, which can be best demonstrated by letters to Coach Bill Mann after winning the title:

“Congratulations to you and to our women's swimming team for bringing the first NCAA National Championship to the University of South Florida!....You and Lou have done a fine job and have brought great honor to our University...” A letter from then University President John Lott Brown to Coach William P. Mann dated March 19, 1985

“I want to extend my sincere congratulations for a super national championship! I know it's taken a lot of work and you both worked extremely hard at bringing more national attention to the University of South Florida.  I want you to know how proud we are of our swim program here...” A memo from then Athletic Director John W. Wadas to Coaches Bill Mann and Lou Manganiello dated March 18, 1985.

“...You and the entire USF Women's Swimming Team deserve much credit for capturing the 1985 Division II National Championship. These accomplishments have truly enhanced our University's reputation.” A letter from Alumni National President, Steve Oscher to Coach Bill Mann dated September 25, 1985.

The amount of individual national championships, All-America honors and school records accumulated by the 1984-85 team is simply daunting. The Bulls won five individual national titles, two relay national titles and racked up 35 All-America honors in 1985 alone, and well over 100 during the careers of the 10 NCAA competitors.

The Bulls didn't only win the first national championship in USF history, they ran (or swam) away with it as the local media wrote.

Below is a complete list of the titles, All-America honors and records the 1984-85 team accumulated:

1985 NCAA Division II Women's Swimming & Diving Champions (492.2 points)
Team: Suzanne Crenshaw, Dawn Hewitt, Merit Greaves, Tracey Hayes, Nancy Bercaw, Margaret Mortell, Alicia McHugh, Susan Duncan, Julie Muller

Alicia McHugh
1985 NCAA Division II Individual Champion: 100 Yard Freestyle, 51.65

Suzanne Crenshaw
1985 NCAA Division II Individual Champion: 500 Yard Freestyle,  4:54.92                      
1985 NCAA Division II Individual Champion: 1650 Yard Freestyle, 16:50.74                   
National Record (by 10 seconds) for two years – broken in 1986-87.

Dawn Hewitt
1985 NCAA Division II Individual Champion:  100 Yard Backstroke, 58.40                      
1985 NCAA Division II Individual Champion:  200 Yard Backstroke, 2:05.85                                        

Dawn Hewitt, Merit Greaves, Margaret Mortell, Nancy Bercaw
1985 NCAA Division II Champions:  200 Yard Medley Relay, 1:47.86 – Division II Record

Dawn Hewitt, Nancy Bercaw, Margaret Mortell, Alicia McHugh
1985 NCAA Division II Champions:  400 Yard Medley Relay, 3:55.54 – Division II Record

Bill Mann, Swim Coach - Division II Coach of the Year – 1984-85

ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Suzanne Crenshaw
200 yard Freestyle, 1985
500 yard Freestyle, 1985
1650 yard Freestyle, 1985
400 yard Freestyle Relay, 1985
800 yard Freestyle relay, 1985

Dawn Hewitt
100 yard Backstroke, 1985
100 yard Butterfly, 1985
200 yard Backstroke, 1985
200 yard Medley Relay, 1985
400 yard Medley Relay, 1985
800 yard Freestyle Relay, 1985

Merit Greaves
100 yard Breaststroke, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Breastroke, 1984, 1985
100 yard Individual Medley, 1983
200 yard Individual Medley, 1984, 1985
400 yard Individual Medley, 1985
200 yard Medley Relay, 1984, 1985
200 yard Freestyle Relay, 1984, 1985
400 yard Freestyle Relay, 1984, 1985

Nancy Bercaw
50 yard Freestyle, 1983, 1984, 1985
100 yard Breaststroke, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Medley Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Freestyle Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985
400 yard Medley Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985
400 yard Freestyle Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985

Margaret J. Mortell
200 yard Individual Medley, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Medley Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Freestyle Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985
400 yard Freestyle Relay, 1983, 1984, 1985

Alicia McHugh
50 yard Freestyle, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
100 yard Freestyle, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Freestyle, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
200 yard Medley Relay, 1982, 1983, 1984
400 yard Medley Relay, 1984, 1985
200 yard Freestyle Relay, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
400 yard Freestyle Relay, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
800 yard Freestyle Relay, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

Susan Duncan
400 yard Individual Medley, 1985
500 yard Freestyle, 1985
1650 yard Freestyle, 1985
800 yard Freestyle Relay, 1985

USF RECORDS
Nancy Bercaw, 1986                       
50 freestyle, .23.83
100 Breastroke, 1:06.70

Alicia McHugh, 1984                      
100 freestyle, .51.21

Suzanne Crenshaw, 1985             
200 freestyle 1:52.23
500 freestyle, 4:54.92
1000 freestyle, 10:11.37
1650 freestyle, 15:50.74

Merit Greaves, 1986                      
200 Individual Medley, 2:09.00
200 Breaststroke, 2:26.03

Susie Duncan, 1985                        
400 Individual Medley, 4:34.54

Dawn Hewitt, 1985                        
100 Backstroke, 58.33
200 Backstroke, 2:05.85

Maggie Mortell, 1985                   
100 Butterfly, 58.34

Dawn Hewitt,  Merit Greaves, Maggie Mortell, Nancy Bercaw, 1985      
200 Medley Relay, 1:47.86

Dawn Hewitt.  Nancy Bercaw, Maggie Mortell, Alicia McHugh, 1985      
400 Medley Relay, 3:55.54

Alicia McHugh,  Nancy Bercaw, Merit Greaves, Maggie Mortell, 1985   
200 Freestyle Relay, 1:36.38

Nancy Bercaw, Merit Greaves, Maggie Mortell, Alicia McHugh, 1984    
400 Freestyle Relay, 3:31.25

Alicia McHugh, Dawn Hewitt, Susie Duncan, Suzanne Crenshaw, 1985  
800 Freestyle Relay