Draft:Michael Fitzmaurice (swimmer)

Michael Fitzmaurice was born in Boston, Mass. (1945) and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut where he played all sports but took up Competitive Swimming seriously his freshman year of high school (St. Mary’s HS, Greenwich, Conn.). He was the 1st Freshman to win a Varsity Letter in any sport at the school and within a few years he had set multiple Conn. HS and AAU records. He matriculated to Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.) in his senior year, a national Swimming power, where he was a 5-time Prep All-American and set a National Prep School Record in the 100 Yard Freestyle (48.5) in 1964. In addition, he competed in two National Catholic Championships (Villanova Univ.) and won 2 Most Valuable Swimmer Awards, where he set records in the 50,100, and 200 yd Freestyle. He was ranked the Number #2 High School 100 Yard Freestyler in the Nation entering College after 4-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, Don Schollander.

He attended Villanova University, Villanova Pa. and in his freshman year (1965) set two NCAA Freshman Records (200 Yd Freestyle / 200 Yd IM). In his four years there he became a 9-time NCAA All-American; set an American Record (200 Meter MR); was elected to the AAU All-American team; and won a Gold Medal for the United States in the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada (400 Meter Freestyle Relay). He won 4 Eastern Collegiate Championships titles (1965-68), setting records in all 4 events, and placed 2nd in the 100 Meter Freestyle (1966) at the USA National Swimming Championships, again after the great Don Schollander. That same year he was ranked 7th in the World (100 Meter Freestyle). And he is currently enshrined in the Villanova University Hall of Fame.

After completing college he was drafted into the United States Army, stationed at the USMA, West Point, NY where he both coached and competed. He again won a Gold Medal for the USA in the 1970 CISM Games (World Armed Services Games) in Barcelona, Spain.

After retiring he competed in the National Masters Swimming Championships (30-35 Age Group) in which he won 5 Gold Medals in the Indoor Natl. Championships and five more at the Outdoor Championships as well, and set 8 National Age Group Records.