Lecanto’s Michelle Dickemann named in top 100 swimmers of all time
LECANTO, Fla. — The competitive swimming career of Lecanto High School swimming coach Michelle Dickemann has been recognized by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA). Dickemann was listed on the organization’s list of the 100 most successful women’s swimmers and divers of the past century.
Dickemann is in her second season as the coach of the girls swimming team at Lecanto. She is also a coach with the Sun Coast swim team. She is relatively new to Lecanto and Citrus County, but she has been in the swimming field for a while. Her recent honor from the CSCAA is one of the highest she has ever received for her work.
“Just to be listed with the greatest of the great, to be on the same list is a huge compliment,” Dickemann remarked to the Citrus County Chronicle. The listing includes many noteworthy Olympic medalists, including recently Olympic champion Katie Ledecky.
Dickemann is on the list under her maiden name of Michelle Langsford. She competed in swimming at Central High School in Springfield, Missouri, in the late 1970’s. During her sophomore year in 1979, she won a Missouri state championship.
She then competed with Springfield-based Drury University from 1982 to 1985. Drury was an NAIA school at the time. She received 21 NAIA All-American Honors while swimming at Drury. She also won 14 NAIA national titles and was named the NAIA’s Swimmer of the Year in 1984 and 1985.
Her performance with the women’s team led her to practice with the men’s team on occasion. She also competed in a few men’s events. Dickemann remarked that growing up with three older brothers inspired her to want to compete against the men in a few events.
“The idea of keeping up with the guys has always been huge for me,” she said.
Dickemann wasn’t made aware that she was added to the CSCAA’s list until after she learned about the listing on her Facebook page. She knew she had been nominated for the list, and she thinks that her former Drury coach may have nominated her. Former Drury swimming coach Brian Reynolds told Dickemann a few weeks ago that she had been nominated for the listing. Many people have since been celebrating her appearance of the list, even producing a new poster in her office to commemorate the honor.
The CSCAA listing came out as part of the 100th anniversary of the organization. The list celebrates many of the top collegiate swimmers who have competed in the United States. Many of the people on the list include former Olympians who have won medals at some of the world’s top competitions.
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