Hendrix College Athletics

Sandra Smith Detwiler, class of '65, “Sandy” Smith Detwiler’s three years at Hendrix coincided with the institution of swimming as a varsity sport for women at the college.  Smith was the first outstanding Hendrix female swimmer, winning points in every meet, including 23 ½ at the Arkansas AAU indoor swimming championship in 1962.  She won the 100 yard backstroke, setting a new state record, finished a close second in the 100 yard freestyle and fourth in the 100 yard breaststroke.    In another AAU meet she placed first in the 500-yard freestyle and second in the 1650 yard freestyle in an eight-team meet.  Dubbed the “one-woman wonder,” Smith helped out the shorthanded Hendrix men’s team by swimming a creditable lap in a freestyle relay.