MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In the 50 years of women's swimming and diving at West Virginia University, many tremendous student-athletes have donned the gold and blue.
 
In a program that stretches its roots to 1974, there is one swimmer who left a lasting legacy more so than the rest. If you've ever heard about West Virginia women's swimming and diving, you've probably heard of the late Renee Riccio.
 
Most student-athletes are looking to leave their mark no matter where they compete. The Altoona, Pennsylvania, native certainly left her mark after competing for the Mountaineers from 1989-1993.


 
When Riccio graduated, she held school records in the 100-yard butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and the 400 IM. Her 200 butterfly time (2:00.06) ranks sixth and her 200 IM time (2:02.38) ranks seventh in the WVU women's all-time top 10 times.
 
While at WVU, Riccio met her future husband, Frank McCutchan, while both competed for the swimming and diving program. Renee and Frank had two children, Jacqueline and Frankie. Jacqueline swam for the Mountaineers from 2019-23, and Frankie is currently in his second year with the program.


 
Despite her mom's many accolades, Jacqueline McCutchan said she was always humble.
 
"My mom, if you knew her, she was very humble and selfless," Jacqueline McCutchan said. "You wouldn't know that she was good at anything. It's just really special that her legacy has captured so much attention and so many people talk about her because she wasn't the person to jump out and tell you how good she was.
 
"So, it's really special for us for her to get that recognition because during her time, she would've never told you."
 
Renee transferred her collegiate success to international competition, qualifying for the 1992 United States Olympic Trials, placing 13^th in the prelims of the 100 butterfly (1:02.16).
 


Renee's athletic ability in the pool rubbed off on her two children as Jacqueline won gold for WVU at the 2023 Big 12 Conference Championships in the 100 backstroke (54.14) and is one of just five women's swimmers at WVU to win gold at the conference championship.
 
"When I first started, it was definitely a little intimidating because people would say 'Oh, we know your mom'," Jacqueline said. "I think after I started my first couple of meets at WVU it was more inspiring. Not only am I swimming for myself, I'm also from Morgantown, so I am swimming for my state, but I'm also swimming for my mom. She swam here, my dad swam here.
 
"I'm just carrying on that legacy, so in the beginning, it was a little intimidating just having those shoes to fill and knowing how much impact she made, but then it quickly became inspiring and motivating."
 
Frankie McCutchan spent one year at West Chester before transferring to West Virginia ahead of the 2023-24 season. While he competes for the Mountaineers, Frankie said he thinks about his mom's impact on the swimming and diving program.
 
"I think about her often when I'm swimming," Frankie said. "I think about things she told me years ago, and she never was one to put pressure on me. She taught me the fundamentals of swimming, but she was always there in my corner.
 
"She's someone I think about when I'm at the pool and on the deck."
 
Riccio passed away on Aug. 24, 2021, after a battle with melanoma, but her legacy continues to live on through her family and her contributions to the WVU swimming and diving program and the Morgantown community.
 
"My parents swam during a time of WVU swimming, and then I swam during a different time, and now Frankie is swimming in a whole different phase of WVU swimming," Jacqueline said. "I think the thing I take away from it most is pride. We've had our hand in a part of WVU's story for swimming through a lot of the phases. I think that is amazing to me that our family has been through the program through all the different steps along the way."
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.