The 2022 University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 21 at Jeff's Catering in Brewer. To read about the full 2022 Induction Class, please click here.

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Orono, Maine -- Beth Carone started swimming competitively at the age of 6. But by the time she was accepted as a student at the University of Maine, the Marblehead, Massachusetts, product was seriously considering giving up the sport.

Ultimately, the pool, the cheering, the excitement and the camaraderie beckoned. Carone wasn't sure she was worthy of consideration, but after arriving on campus, she sought out Black Bear women's coach Jeff Wren.

"I said, 'hi, I'm Beth Carone, I'm just wondering if you have any room on the team as a walk-on. I just want to try to make it. If I could. If you have any available space,'" she recalled.

Wren knew all about Carone from a coaching friend and was eager to meet her. And both of them wound up being thrilled about her decision.

Carone became one of the most accomplished swimmers in school history. In four seasons, she won five individual New England titles and registered numerous second-place efforts, helping UMaine claim three regional championships and a runner-up finish.

Those statement performances from 1977-81 have helped Beth Carone Prelgovisk earn a spot on the podium in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.

The versatile Prelgovisk excelled in the backstroke and the breaststroke. Her New England championships included swims in the 50-yard backstroke (twice), 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard individual medley and 200 IM.

She also competed on five first–place relay teams at New Englands, including the 100-, 200- and 400-yard medley relay (twice), along with the 800 freestyle relay.

Prelgovisk said Wren was an important influence on her ability to carve out such a successful career.

"Jeff is such a great coach," she said. "He's technically sound on everything  and I've just learned so much by swimming for him."


Prelgovisk said she also drew inspiration from the team, which was built around working hard to achieve goals and enjoying the experience while representing UMaine in the best way possible.

"I was extremely proud to be an athlete that was representing the University of Maine," she said.

One of Prelgovisk's career highlights did not come at a championship meet. Instead, she had the chance to go head to head with a former high school teammate and friend, Lissa McGrath, who was competing for Bowdoin College.

Prelgovisk narrowly out-touched her friend, a three-time Division III national champion, at the finish.

"We gave each other a big hug. It was just a great race," she said.

Prelgovisk downplayed her personal efforts at UMaine. Her greatest satisfaction was derived instead from being part of a large, cohesive, supportive team.

"Everybody cheering for each other, it's just so wonderful," she said. "Jeff let us have fun and laugh, but the minute our hands and feet touched the water, it was hard work."

Prelgovisk said her experience as a student-athlete inspired her to pursue a career in education.

"Between swimming and learning how to teach young children through education, it just transformed me, I think, into a wonderful teacher over the years," she said.

Prelgovisk, who has taught for more than 25 years, is a health and physical education teacher at Messalonskee High School in Oakland. She also has remained active in swimming, coaching at both the YMCA and high school levels.

Prelgovisk and her husband Garret have three adult children, Bryan, Lindsey and Kristy.