Paul Hartman, Linda Hatt and Corey Van Fleet

Back in the days when the NCAA did not sponsor women’s sports and all schools were in the same division for women under the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), only a handful of Oakland University swimmer’s could compete on the national level. One of those talented swimmer’s was Linda Hatt, one of the best of OU’s early women’s swimmers.

Linda, then Hein, qualified for the AIAW swimming Championships in 1979 and 1980 by the virtue of capturing the regional championship in the 100 yard butterfly in each of the two years. Hatt held several individual and relay records while swimming at OU, but it is a testimony to her ability that her 100 fly mark of 57.63, set in 1979 still stands today and is the longest existing record in OU swimming.

Hatt was very active in student activities and dorm functions while at OU, and was a nursing major and member of the student Nurse Association. She currently lives in Livonia and works as a home care nurse with the Greenfield Health Systems Corporation.