Over the past quarter-century, the Washington College women’s swim team has enjoyed the success of a number of All-Americans and national championships qualifiers. Margaret Klag holds a special place among them as the first swimmer in the school’s history to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships all four years of her collegiate career.
After qualifying for those championship meets each of her first three seasons, but coming up just short of advancing to the finals, Margaret broke through as a senior. She finished fourth in all of Division III in the 100 breaststroke to claim All-America honors and 14th in the 200 breaststroke to achieve All-America honorable mention in that event.
A 19-time medalist at Centennial Conference Championship meets, Margaret was named that meet’s Most Outstanding Performer as a senior as she defended her conference championship in the 200 breaststroke and also won the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle.
Margaret graduated from the College as the school record holder in both breaststroke events and the 50 freestyle. Her breaststroke records still stand to this day, a rare achievement in the sport of swimming. As a senior, she was the female winner of the College’s Eldridge Eliason Award and the co-female winner of the Senior Athletic Award.
During her four-year career, the Shorewomen had an astounding dual-meet record of 42 wins against just five losses. The 2001-02 team went a perfect 12-0 in dual meets.
Following her collegiate career, Margaret continued to swim competitively. She completed the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim six times and the event’s one-mile challenge an additional two times.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Margaret Lee Klag Eshenour into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 1st day of October, 2016.
