University of Wisconsin-Stout Athletics

A champion swimmer who became the first woman inducted into the Blue Devil Hall of Fame. The record she compiled during her three-year swimming career at Stout reflects the highest achievement. She earned her first conference championship as a sophomore and went on to add five more conference titles. She was cited seven times for All-American performances at national meets.

Below is the nomination letter to the UW-Stout Hall of Fame committee from Rita (McKinley) Slinden, who was the swimming coach during Fritsche's time at Stout.

"During her three-year career at Stout, Charlotte's records were the best-ever achieved by any swimmer. As a sophomore in 1975-76, she won the the individual conference championship in the 100-yd breast stroke, placed second in all three breast stroke events at the AIAW Regional meet and went on to win her first All-America title in the 50-breast stroke. This was especially significant since at that time women's swimming only had one division at the collegiate level and most national meet competitors were from large universities.

"In 1976-77, she won two more conference championship titles in the breast stroke events and was a member of Stout's conference championship medley relay team. That year at the national meet, she placed second, third and fourth in the breaststroke events, adding three more All-America Titles to her record.

"And, finally, in 1977-78, Charlotte finished her career with three more conference championship titles (all three championship meet record performances) and with three more All-America performances at the national (NAIA) championship meet.

"Charlotte was truly a 'swimmer before her time.' Not only was she an outstanding swimmer, with respect to her talent, but she was an enthusiastic team member. She was a team leader in practice, as well as in meets. After her first trip to a national meet in 1976, she inspired the other team members to set goals with her to swim at that level. For the next four years, women swimmers from Stout qualified for national competition."