After the NCAA first began sponsoring women's sports in 1981-82, the swimming and diving team became the first Athenas team to place at an NCAA event, earning a 19th-place finish at the 1982 NCAA Division III Championships, hosted by UMass Boston. Leading the way for the Athenas was senior Brett Eppich, who took All-America honors in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke, which made her the first Athena individual to score at an NCAA event in its first season sponsoring women's sports. She also set a SCIAC record in the 200-yard breaststroke at the SCIAC Championships, while winning the 100-yard breaststroke and contributing to a 400-yard medley relay win.