When Allison Armistead took a recruitment trip to SUNY Oneonta in September, she was impressed with the city surrounding the campus, along with the school’s academic reputation and its variety of sports teams.
Including her own sport.

Next season, the Valley Central’s senior swimmer and multiple-time state qualifier will swim for the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons. She plans to study criminal justice.

“On the recruitment trip, I got to see the swim team and how they interacted with each other,” Armistead said. “I thought they were supportive and a close-knit team. They were always doing stuff together and a lot of team bonding, which I liked.”

Chris Schuler, the Red Dragons’ 23-year coach has a background in sports psychology and works hard to build a team dynamic and culture to promote long-term success. This past season, the Red Dragons finished sixth at the SUNY Athletic Conference championships.

“I felt like at Valley Central, coaches (Scott) Warner and Ciara (Conklin) would push me to get to where I was able to go and I felt like my teammates at Valley Central were always cheering for me, giving me pep talks I need. They were always there for me.”

Another point in Oneonta’s favor was distance. It’s only a 2-hour drive from Montgomery and it would enable her parents to come to her college meets.

“In high school, they would be at every single meet cheering me on,” Armistead said. “I really like when they come out and support me. I chose to stay closer so that they could because I know they enjoy watching me.”

There was plenty to enjoy over her seven years on the Vikings’ swim team. Originally, after moving around as a young swimmer, she settled into her role as a sprint freestyler, clinching several trips to the state championships.

She finished 45th in the state in the 50-yard freestyle and was part of a 31st-ranked 200-yard freestyle relay this season. She was fourth in the section this year in the 50- and 100-yard relays at the Section 9 championships. She was also part of the second-place 200-yard freestyle relay.

She also went to states in 2018 in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles and the 200- and 400-yard relays.

“She brings a lot of points to use,” Warner said. “One person is not going to fill the gap as far as lost points. It’s going to take multiple swimmers to replace her. Who’s going to take multiple roles? I don’t have one kid. We’re close with Rian Dickman, but she’s not the whole package yet.”

The bond between Oneonta team members also was appealed to her as it was similar the bond between the Vikings’ swimmers, although that bond was formed over a lifetime in the pool.

“I think the bond grows because you’re trying to help each other and push them to be the best they can be,” Armistead said. “You get them as far as they can possibly go and be there for them.”

Despite finding her groove as a sprint freestyler, Warner said he believes Shuler is looking at Armistead’s versatility during her first seasons at the college.

“I’d say her versatility was the biggest thing she brought,” Warner said. “She helped fill whatever holes we had in the lineup.”

Warner described Armistead as a coachable swimmer.

“She’s open to criticism, as well as guidance,” he said. “She’s workable. She doesn’t just go in and say, ‘I’m going to do this’. She listens as you critique her.

With the remainder of her senior year cut short by the closure of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Armistead is looking forward to the next adventure, although she will miss her friends, teammates, and coaches.

“I’m really looking forward to studying criminal justice and hopefully getting better at swimming and trying to break some records at Oneonta,” she said. “And create bonds with different people.”