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Dale Rothenberger

Dale rothenberger hartwick college swimming

Dale Rothenberger enters his 38th season as head coach of Hartwick College's men's and women's swimming and diving programs in 2022-23.

In addition to his coaching duties, he is the director of aquatics and a lecturer in the physical education department.

During his career, Rothenberger has amassed 584 wins, posting a 315-138 record with the men's program and a 269-197 mark with the women.

In 2019-20, Rothenberger led his teams to a pair of second-place finishes at the Allegheny Empire Championship. The men's team, after finishing their dual meet season with a 10-4 mark, garnered 14 all-conference spots. Freshman Diallo Marshall was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Meet and Co-Rookie of the Year. The women's team finished 8-6 in dual meets and then earned 19 all-conference honors in Webster. Junior Abby Miller was named Co-Swimmer of the Meet and earned three Empire 8 First Team awards.

Three seasons ago, both the men's and women's programs had dual meet winning percentages above .700, as the men were 11-3 and the women 10-4. Each team finished in third place at the E8 Championships, with the men securing three All-Conference spots and the women grabbing eleven All-Conference finishes, including four first-place finishes. In addition, Gina Grauer was named both the Female Rookie of the Meet at the E8 Championships and the Empire 8 Swimming and Diving Women's Rookie of the Year, the first Hartwick swimmer to win the award since Mary Larkin in 2003-04.

In 2017-18, Rothenberger piloted the men's program to eight dual meet wins and fourth place at the E8 Championships. The women secured a 6-7 dual meet record and took third at the championships.

In 2016-17, both the men's and women's teams earned third-place finishes at the Empire 8 Championships. The men finished the dual meet season with a 9-6 mark and ended up fourth in the UNYSCSA. The women, after a 7-8 mark, would end the season sixth in the state.

In 2015-16, the Hartwick men placed second in the Empire 8 and third in the UNYSCSA at the championships. The women took third in the E8 and fifth in the state. Rothenberger, who reached the 500-win milestone on October 24, would guide senior Matt Plunkett to honorable mention All-America accolades at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Rothenberger guided both Hartwick teams to third-place finishes at the Empire 8 Conference Championships in 2014-15. Both teams also competed at the NCAA Championships in Shenandoah, TX. He guided Hawks Miles Blaney and Ben Detar to honorable mention All-America accolades.

In 2013-14, Rothenberger led both Hartwick teams to third place finishes at the UNYSCSA Championships. Senior diver Lindsay Bowker also became the first female diver in the history of the women's program to compete at the NCAA Div. III Championships.

Rothenberger guided the men’s program to a 14-1 record in dual meets and the women posted a 12-3 record in 2012-13. The men were ranked as high as fifteenth nationally. Six swimmers were selected to compete at the NCAA Championships with sophomore Jade Woodend the first female swimmer to participate since 2004. Five honorable mention All-American finishes were achieved.

In 2011-12, Rothenberger led the men's program to a school-record 16 dual-meet wins. In addition, six members of the team qualified for the NCAA Championships. The seven All-America or honorable mention All-America finishes equaled the most in school history. Rothenberger was also recognized as the UNYSCSA's Men's Coach of the Year. The women's program also set a school record in dual-meet wins with 14.

In the 2010-11 season, Rothenberger posted his third straight 11-win season for the men and also guided the women's team to nine victories. The teams' wins over St. Lawrence on Jan. 29th gave him a total of 400 wins for his career. Under Rothenberger's guidance, four male swimmers and one female swimmer earned Empire 8 All-Conference honors last year. Eight Hartwick records were also set at the UNYSCSA Championships.

In the 2009-10 season, Rothenberger broke the 200 win-mark for the men's program with an 10-5 record. He also guided the women's team to nine victories. Under Rothenberger's guidance, sophomore Michael Phillips participated in three events (200 IM, 200 Breast, 200 Free) at the NCAA Division III Championships in Minneapolis, MN.

During the 2008-09 season, Rothenberger led the Hawk men and women to 11-5 records. The Hawk men placed 3rd in the Empire 8 Championships and 6th at the state meet, while the women 4th in the E8 and fifth at the state championships.

During the 2005-06 campaign, the Hawk men's program tallied a 10-3 overall mark en route to capturing the Empire 8 and Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association titles. For his team's efforts, Rothenberger garnered league and UNYSCSA Coach of the Year accolades. He also captured the UNYSCSA Coach of the Year honors following the men's state championships during the 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons.

On the women's side, Rothenberger also is a three-time recipient of the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year Award. He earned these honors following the 1996, 2000, and 2001 state meets. Rothenberger also received the 2004 Empire 8 Coach of the Year Award after leading the Hawks to the league title.

During his tenure, Hartwick's men's and women's programs have registered seven finishes among the top 20 at the NCAA Division III Championships. He has coached numerous All-Americans, including Susan Torrell ('92), a two-time national champion at the 1990 Division III championships.

Rothenberger received his bachelor's degree in physical education, recreation and health from West Chester State in 1979 and a master's degree in exercise physiology from Slippery Rock University in 1987. He is pursuing a doctorate in exercise physiology from Syracuse University.

During his undergraduate days, Rothenberger was a four-year letterman in both swimming and water polo at West Chester. As a Golden Ram, he was a four-time NCAA Division II qualifier and a two-time swimming All-American in 1978 and in 1979. At the time of his graduation, Rothenberger left holding several WCSU school records. He also participated in many water polo tournaments as an all-star player and coach.

Rothenberger has coached U.S. Swimming age group teams, as well as high school teams in Pennsylvania and in New York. He has coached several U.S.S. Junior and Senior national qualifiers, U.S.S. Eastern Zone Championship finalists, as well as Empire State Games title winners.

Rothenberger's athletic resume includes participating in three Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championships (1987, 1988, 1992). He received Tri-Fed All-American status in the 30-34 age group for his triathlon performances.

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