BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Mario Arce (tennis, second from right in above photo), Kim Dodson (softball, third from left), Otto Piedmont (swimming, third from right) and Laura (Spaulding) Sumner (lacrosse, second from left) – were inducted into to the St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday.
During an afternoon ceremony in the Quick Center for the Arts, St. Bonaventure Director of Athletics Tim Kenney lauded the group. “No matter where you go or what era you’re from, Hall of Fame means the best of the best,” he said. “You have made us all proud as athletes, as students and now as incredible representatives of St. Bonaventure as alumni.”
Legendary St. Bonaventure swim coach John Skehan – himself a Hall of Famer — called Piedmont the finest freestyle swimmer he ever coached. In that era, before St. Bonaventure belonged to an athletic conference, the team’s top competition was the New York State intercollegiate swimming championships.
There, Piedmont went undefeated in the 200 freestyle finals four years in a row. He also won the 500 free in his freshman season of 1967. Over his career, Piedmont set school records in seven events: the 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles as well as part of the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay. Piedmont was elected team captain his senior season of 1969-70. After graduating, Piedmont served in the United States Navy, where he was a pilot for more than 20 years. Piedmont is now retired in resides in Clearwater, Fla.
The induction, which was a part of the University’s annual Alumni Reunion Weekend, was the 38th in the history of the Hall of Fame.
Swimming news courtesy of St. Bonaventure University Athletics.
