WVU Sports Hall of Fame
The late Renee Riccio was a three-time All-American in swimming & diving during her collegiate career from 1989-93. She was the first WVU swimmer to earn two All-America honors in the same season.
Riccio was considered coach Kevin Gilson's top recruit in the late 1980s. She came to WVU after spending two years at The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. She had accomplished everything she could at Altoona High in Altoona, Pennsylvania, from setting a national YMCA record in the 50-yard freestyle as a 10-year-old to breaking every record Altoona had before enrolling at Peddie when she was 16.
A member of the 2008 Blair County Sports Hall of Fame, Riccio became the team's top swimmer when she arrived in 1990. Riccio is one of just seven female swimmers in school history to qualify for at least three NCAA championships, encompassing seven different events in all. She earned All-America honors in 1991 in the 100 fly and in 1992 in the 100 and 200 fly.
Riccio graduated with four school records in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 I.M. and 400 I.M. Her 200 I.M. time of 2:02.38 posted in 1993 is the sixth-fastest in school history, and her 200 fly clocking of 2:00.06 ranks fifth.
During Riccio's senior season, WVU was three points shy of having an undefeated campaign with victories over Pitt, Virginia Tech and Maryland. The team also won the Atlantic 10 and Eastern Championships. Riccio was team captain and conference MVP from her sophomore to her senior years. She was undefeated in dual-meet competition her entire career.
Riccio was one of 42 swimmers to qualify for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials and she ended up finishing 13th in the prelims with a time of 1:02.16. Riccio was a member of the Senior National Championship Fort Lauderdale Swim Team in 1992.
Riccio met her husband, Frank McCutchan, while both were members of the WVU team and after moves to Atlanta, Charlotte and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, the couple made Morgantown their home for 20 years.
Riccio worked as a physical therapy aid, swim coach, and after taking several years off to stay home with her children, a swim instructor for children with special needs at SteppingStones of Morgantown. She volunteered extensively for Monongalia County Schools, including as a volunteer coach of the University High swim team.
Riccio passed away on August 24, 2021, after a year-long battle with melanoma.
Riccio is also survived by her two children, Jacqueline, who recently completed her WVU swimming & diving career, earning a victory in the 100 backstroke at the 2023 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships, and Frankie, who has just started his career on the WVU men's swimming & diving team.
