On this day 29 years ago, Ann Marie Wycoff ’85 was featured in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of Sports Illustrated. “Faces in the Crowd” has been a regular feature of SI since 1956. and its purpose for over 60 years has been highlighting amateur athletes, many of whom have gone on to greatness including Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, and Tim Tebow.

Wycoff was featured in the May 16, 1988 issue of the magazine. On the cover, a still ringless Michael Jordan glided past the Cavalier defense while the interior was inked with stories on Dave Stewart’s 8-0 start for the Oakland A’s, Winning Color’s victory at the Kentucky Derby, and Ken Griffey Jr.’s prospects for a professional baseball career.

Wycoff, a junior at West Point at the time, earned her place in the “Faces” pantheon by winning four individual National Championships in the 200 individual medley, 200 butterfly, 400 individual medley, and 1,650 freestyle and earning the Most Outstanding Swimmer Award at the NCAA Division II Championships. When she graduated a year later, she was the owner of nine individual National Championships and 19 All-American nods. Her staggering accomplishments earned her a place in West Point’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2004, her third hall of fame induction along with the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame (1994) and Stony Brook School Hall of Fame (1997).

ANN MARIE WYCOFF
NORTHPORT, N.Y.
Wycoff, a U.S. Military Academy junior, set a Division II women's 400-yard individual medley record of 4:25.45 at the NCAA championships. She also won three other events and was named the meet's outstanding female swimmer.

~ "Faces in the Crowd," May 16, 1988

View the digital version of the issue here.

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