Patricia Bergman (1999) - Hall of Fame - Ball State University Athletics

Patricia Bergman

Induction:
1999
Class:
1972

Bergman was a member of the women’s swimming team from 1969 through 1972 and was a three-time national champion for the Cardinals. The first female national champion in any sport in the history of Ball State athletics and one of only a small number in school history, Bergman set national records in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard individual medley. Bergman helped Ball State to a ninth-place finish at the 1971 National Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Championships as the Cardinals placed ahead of Syracuse, Indiana, UCLA, Miami (Fla.), Utah, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Washington State, and several other schools. At the 1971 national meet, Bergman won the national title in the 100 individual medley with a time of 1:03.2, which was just behind her national championship time of 1:03.0 set in 1970. She won the national title in 1970 in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:02.3, and finished second in 1971 with a time of 1:03.0. At the 1971 national meet, Bergman also placed fourth in the 50 backstroke with a time of 29.6 plus helped the Cardinals to a seventh place finish in the 200 medley relay.