North Carolina State University Athletics
Photo by: Reagan Lunn
Cassidy, Harrell Named to 2020 North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Class
1/29/2020 8:47:00 AM | Swimming
CARY, N.C. – The NC State swimming & diving program will be well-represented in the 2020 North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame. Alumni Sid Cassidy and Beth Harrell will be in the next class of inductees.
The induction ceremony will be Sat., March 21 in Cary, N.C.
"Our Class of 2020 North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Inductees represent standouts in all levels of swimming competition, coaching, and administration. They represent accomplishments in Swimming, Open Water Swimming, and Masters Swimming, and we are delighted to recognize their achievements in, and contributions to, the sport of swimming," said Ceil Blackwell, Co-Chair of the NC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee.
Erika Braun, fellow Co-Chair added, "I am thrilled this year to see the amazing achievements of individuals who have led, or are continuing to lead, our sport, both in the pool and out."
SID CASSIDY (1974-77)
Sid Cassidy attended NC State from 1974 to 1977. While at NC State from 1975-76, Cassidy was an All-American swimmer for the Wolfpack. Cassidy was recognized as a three-time ACC Champion in both the 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle events from 1975-77.
After college, Cassidy became an open water marathon swimmer. In 1979, Cassidy was ranked fourth in the world as a professional marathon swimmer after competing in marathons around the globe, including in Canada, France and Egypt.
Cassidy began his coaching career at the Wilmington (Del.) Swim School & Aquatic Club as a head senior swim team coach from 1979-83, followed by head coach for the Greater Tampa Swimming Association from 1983-85.
In 1985, he became assistant coach & recruiting coordinator at Florida State, followed by the head coaching job for men's & women's swimming at James Madison in 1992. Cassidy then served as head coach of swimming and diving for the University of Miami (Fla.) from 1993-98, followed by a position as aquatic director & head swim coach for the Atlantic City Aquatic Club through 2005.
There he founded a USA Swimming club program, while also working for USA Swimming and FINA as an open water swimming coach and administrator. In these roles, he served as director for the Around the Island Marathon Swim and created the FINA World Cup Event "10K for the USA" in 2002. He organized and ran the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit.
Cassidy served as chairman for FINA at the first Olympic 10K marathon swim at the 2008 Beijing Games. Later at the 2012 Olympics in London, Cassidy served as an assistant referee. In 2016, Cassidy stepped up as head referee for the men's Olympic 10K marathon swim in Rio de Janeiro.
Cassidy currently serves as the aquatic director and head coach for Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Fla., where he began in 2005.
BETH HARRELL (1977-81)
Beth Harrell began her career as a swimmer for the NC State Wolfpack in 1977, where she was an Olympic Trials finalist (1976). During 1977, she swam on the US team that competed in Russia. As a freshman, she participated in the World University Games, held in Sophia, Bulgaria.
From 1976-79 she was ranked top eight in the swimming world rankings. While at NC State, she earned All-America honors in 26 events from 1977-81. In 1979, she swam a record-breaking 100-yard butterfly event in 54.83.
After collegiate swimming, Harrell began her post-grad swimming career with US Masters Swimming. In 1990, while swimming for the club WSMA in the North Carolina LMSC, she was an All-American swimmer in the 30-34 age group. From 1991-93, as part of the LMSC of Florida, she was All-American in the pool course for the 30-34 age group. Shortly after graduating from NC State, she founded the Piedmont Aquatic Club in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she served as head coach from 1992-94.
From there, she transitioned to the interim head coach and assistant coach positions for both the men's and women's programs at NC State from 1994-95.
In 1995, she began her career as the head coach at South Carolina, where she led her team to national top 25 and top 50 finishes. The Gamecocks placed seventh in the Southeastern Conference for the 1996-97 season under Harrell, and from 1994-96 and 1997-99, the Gamecocks finished eighth in the SEC each year.
In 2000, Harrell founded the swimming and diving program at the University of Northern Florida. She remained the Head Coach at UNF until 2014.
The 2020 NC Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard, Cary, N.C. 27513, on Sat., March 21. The evening's festivities will start with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner & ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. The induction ceremony is being held in conjunction with the North Carolina Masters Swimming State Championships in Cary.
Individual Tickets are available for $60 by visiting ncshof2020.eventbrite.com Sponsored Tables of 10 are $800 and are available by contacting Collins Lowder at clowder@trianglesportscommission.com.
The induction ceremony will be Sat., March 21 in Cary, N.C.
"Our Class of 2020 North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Inductees represent standouts in all levels of swimming competition, coaching, and administration. They represent accomplishments in Swimming, Open Water Swimming, and Masters Swimming, and we are delighted to recognize their achievements in, and contributions to, the sport of swimming," said Ceil Blackwell, Co-Chair of the NC Swimming Hall of Fame Committee.
Erika Braun, fellow Co-Chair added, "I am thrilled this year to see the amazing achievements of individuals who have led, or are continuing to lead, our sport, both in the pool and out."
SID CASSIDY (1974-77)
Sid Cassidy attended NC State from 1974 to 1977. While at NC State from 1975-76, Cassidy was an All-American swimmer for the Wolfpack. Cassidy was recognized as a three-time ACC Champion in both the 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle events from 1975-77.
After college, Cassidy became an open water marathon swimmer. In 1979, Cassidy was ranked fourth in the world as a professional marathon swimmer after competing in marathons around the globe, including in Canada, France and Egypt.
Cassidy began his coaching career at the Wilmington (Del.) Swim School & Aquatic Club as a head senior swim team coach from 1979-83, followed by head coach for the Greater Tampa Swimming Association from 1983-85.
In 1985, he became assistant coach & recruiting coordinator at Florida State, followed by the head coaching job for men's & women's swimming at James Madison in 1992. Cassidy then served as head coach of swimming and diving for the University of Miami (Fla.) from 1993-98, followed by a position as aquatic director & head swim coach for the Atlantic City Aquatic Club through 2005.
There he founded a USA Swimming club program, while also working for USA Swimming and FINA as an open water swimming coach and administrator. In these roles, he served as director for the Around the Island Marathon Swim and created the FINA World Cup Event "10K for the USA" in 2002. He organized and ran the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit.
Cassidy served as chairman for FINA at the first Olympic 10K marathon swim at the 2008 Beijing Games. Later at the 2012 Olympics in London, Cassidy served as an assistant referee. In 2016, Cassidy stepped up as head referee for the men's Olympic 10K marathon swim in Rio de Janeiro.
Cassidy currently serves as the aquatic director and head coach for Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Fla., where he began in 2005.
BETH HARRELL (1977-81)
Beth Harrell began her career as a swimmer for the NC State Wolfpack in 1977, where she was an Olympic Trials finalist (1976). During 1977, she swam on the US team that competed in Russia. As a freshman, she participated in the World University Games, held in Sophia, Bulgaria.
From 1976-79 she was ranked top eight in the swimming world rankings. While at NC State, she earned All-America honors in 26 events from 1977-81. In 1979, she swam a record-breaking 100-yard butterfly event in 54.83.
After collegiate swimming, Harrell began her post-grad swimming career with US Masters Swimming. In 1990, while swimming for the club WSMA in the North Carolina LMSC, she was an All-American swimmer in the 30-34 age group. From 1991-93, as part of the LMSC of Florida, she was All-American in the pool course for the 30-34 age group. Shortly after graduating from NC State, she founded the Piedmont Aquatic Club in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she served as head coach from 1992-94.
From there, she transitioned to the interim head coach and assistant coach positions for both the men's and women's programs at NC State from 1994-95.
In 1995, she began her career as the head coach at South Carolina, where she led her team to national top 25 and top 50 finishes. The Gamecocks placed seventh in the Southeastern Conference for the 1996-97 season under Harrell, and from 1994-96 and 1997-99, the Gamecocks finished eighth in the SEC each year.
In 2000, Harrell founded the swimming and diving program at the University of Northern Florida. She remained the Head Coach at UNF until 2014.
The 2020 NC Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard, Cary, N.C. 27513, on Sat., March 21. The evening's festivities will start with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner & ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. The induction ceremony is being held in conjunction with the North Carolina Masters Swimming State Championships in Cary.
Individual Tickets are available for $60 by visiting ncshof2020.eventbrite.com Sponsored Tables of 10 are $800 and are available by contacting Collins Lowder at clowder@trianglesportscommission.com.
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