Patch Chat with Anne Sullivan

She was a swimmer when Garden City High School didn't have a swim team, attended college when there was a dearth of female swimming scholarships and swam in a pre-Title IX world ... but that didn't stop Anne Sullivan.  

She's proved that she knows how to make waves. She's coached the high school boys and girls varsity swim teams since 1995 and proudly sends a cadre of swimmers to the New York State championships every year.  

The girls team has been wildly successful, earning 11 consecutive county titles and boasting eight straight undefeated seasons, which translates into 79 wins and zero losses. Nine girls were sent to state championships last year – the largest number of girls ever sent.

The boys team, which is half the size of the girls, is a young and up-and-coming team. Last year's results came in at eight wins and three losses. They turned out to be a dark horse during the season coming in third place in Conference 2 and plans are to move to Conference 1 next season. Five boys earned All-Conference and All-Division honors. 

"There's quite a bit of talent coming from the middle school, they are evolving into a competitive threat," shared parent Margaret Finnegan, who has two sons on the swim team.

Sullivan's aquatic career had its humble beginnings with the Garden City Pool's swim team. She then swam competitively year-round. Her parents supported her passion and traveled with her.  

She had early success and qualified for the senior nationals from 1969-1972. In 1967 she set a national record in the 11/12 girls 400 freestyle relay. In 1972 at the age of 16 Sullivan made it to the Olympic trials as a backstroker.

"Just getting to the Olympic trials was a dream," shared Sullivan.

Since swimming wasn't an option in high school she played field hockey, lacrosse and softball. She swam on outside teams. Sullivan graduated from Garden City High School in 1973. She earned a health and physical education degree from West Chester University and a Masters in physical education from Hofstra University.

She also teaches aquatics at Richmond Hill High School. Little do her students know, they are receiving Olympic-level swim instruction.  

"A large majority of city students don't know how to swim," says Sullivan. "I tell them don't succumb to peer pressure and read the markings on the side of a pool."

Admired by her swimmers and peers, she was voted Nassau County "Coach of the Year" this past February during the boys' season by Nassau County's swim coaches.

"I love swimming on her team," Megan Zarriello said. "She cheers for everyone.  We wouldn't have gotten as far as we did without her."

"She cheers equally for the swimmer in first place as the swimmer in fifth," parent Catherine Lozano adds. "Fifth is just as important as first."

Chris Finnegan, who swam on her team from seventh grade through high school and now swims at Georgetown University said, "As a coach she's strict but very well respected. She knows her swimmers and knows how to inspire them."

"People don't realize the amount of time dedicated to this sport," says Diane McGrath, whose daughters are swimmers. "Swimmers practice every day, sometimes twice a day, six days a week not including dry land training."

Sullivan concurs that swimming requires discipline, perseverance and organization. She doesn't make any cuts on her team. She wants everyone to have success.

She also runs the swim lesson program through the Garden City Recreation Department and the swim team and lessons at the Garden City Pool. 

Parent Patty Quinn shared one of her favorite Sullivan mantras: "Early is on-time, on-time is late and late is unacceptable."

"She is an icon in the swimming world," added McGrath. "She has an amazing ability to get the best out of every child in an even-handed way and she's as good at losing as she is at winning."

"She has helped me grow tremendously and she puts so much into the team," says swimmer Kelly McGrath. "Everyone appreciates and looks up to her."

Perhaps the most telling information about Sullivan comes from the girls swim team. This year the girls made T-shirts extolling the 10 top reasons to swim for Garden City High School. The number one reason: Coach Anne.