A four-time All-American on West Chester University's women's diving team, Cynthia Hiester Richards is still considered to be one of the finest divers that West Chester has ever produced. Under the tutelage of legendary head coach Dr. Ronn Jenkins, Hiester Richards reached the pinnacle of her sport in each of her four years competing at the collegiate level. She was a four-time AIAW All-American, four-time EIAC finalist and an honors graduate from WCU in 1976.

Hiester Richards still holds six diving records in both the one-meter and three-meter springboard competitions, more than 30 years after graduating.