THE MICHIGAN DAILY
TUESDAY, AEPTEMSER 13, 1"10
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TUESDAY, ~EFThMBER 15, 1159
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Swim
Team
Ready
To
Defend
NCAA
Title
,R, . _ _ . ____ _ _ _ _
By BILL ZOLLA
Michigan's powerful defending
Big Ten and NCAA swim cham-
pions should again exhibit the
strength that earned them these
titles in the 1958-59 season.
The majority of the squad that
ran up a record-smashing 137 12
point total at the Nationals at
Cornell University last spring will
be returning for another year of
competition. To replace the grad-
uating seniors - most notable
among them: former captain Cy
Hopkins, Dick Hanley and Pete
Fries - some topflight freshmen
will join the varsity ranks.
The Wolverines will display a
balanced team with depth and
quality at each event.
Versatile Newcomer
Heading the group of newcom-
ers will be one of the most versa-
tile members on the team, Fred
Wolf, for whom Michigan coach
Gus Stager predicts future great-
ness. Wolf specializes in the back-
stroke, yet the all-around swim-
mer can be counted on also in
the butterfly and the freestyle
events.
"Because of his diversified tal-
ents, Wolf is expected to give
Captain Tony Tashnick a terrific
battle in the individual medley,"
claimed Stager.
Leading the list of returning
lettermen is the nation's premier
duo of butterfiers, Tashnick and
Dave Gillanders. Tashnick won
three titles in the 1958 NCAA
championships-100- and 200-yd.
butterfly and 200-yd. individual
medley - and took a trio of sec-
ond places at Cornell. He will
again be waging a friendly rival-
ry with Gillanders for butterfly
supremacy. Gillanders dethroned
his teammate in the two butterfly
events in the last NCAA finals.
Close behind these two is a
quartet of butterfly men, who will
be pushing for the number three
spot and possibly higher. Yearling
Terry Slonaker has the potential
to move up quickly, said Stager.
Jack Pongracz now holds down
the third position, and he is fol-
lowed by Mike Natelson and Jack
Pettinger. Wolf is also available
should he be called upon.
Strong in Backstroke
In the backstroke, the Wolver-
ines are now four strong. Stager
can send out John Smith, Wolf,
Alex Gaxiola, and Gerry Price.
Wolf is even conceded a chance
at topping Indiana's great Frank
McKinney, now the country's
leading backstroker. Smith was
runnerup to 'McKinney in the
1959 NCAA "200" race.
The breaststroke may now be
the weakest link on the Michigan
swim squad. Due to the loss at
graduation of Hopkins, who
battled with Michigan State's
Frank Modine for Conference su-
premacy, only Ron Clark remains
as a top threat 'in this event. His
status is in doubt moreover, due
to a possibility of scholastic in-
eligibility. Al Maten, a veteran
swimmer, has only one semester
of competition remaining. -
"We're just going to have to de-
velop some new breaststrokers,"
said Stager.
Many Freestylers
In the freestyle sprints, the
Wolverines will again be laden
with power. Stager went so far
as to predict that the squad would
retain its freestyle sprint relay
championship. Big Ten champ
Frank Legacki will return in the
50- and 100-yd. races along with
Carl Woolley. Legacki, who has
come within a fraction of a sec-
ond of the American record in
both the sprints, can be counted
on for a near :49.0 clocking in
the century while Woolley is less
than a second behind. Legacki,
incidentally, defeated teammates
Gillanders and Tashnick for the
National AAU butterfly title.
Two newcomers should bolster
the veteran sprint duo and make
another strong relay quartet.
From Finland, Karri Kayhko is
a top performer in one of the
three events - the 50-, 100-, and
200-yd. freestyle. Jim Kerr also
swims in the sprints and should
push the returning lettermen, and
John McQuire is expected to see
much action in the shorter races.
The loss of Olympic performer
and NCAA victor Dick Hanley and
veteran Pete Fries cannot be
taken lightly. However Stager has
Wolf, Tashnick, and Pongracz,
three excellent freestylers, to
strengthen his middle and long
distance chances.
In the 440-yd. and longer races,
Michigan's main hope is John Ur-
banscok, who finished high in the
Big Ten finals. Two from the
freshman team, Thomas Bechtel
and Bill Darnton are also expect-
ed to add points in these events.
The individual medley should
feature a top duel between Tash
nick and Wolf for the number on
spot on the team and possibly toj
ranking in the Conference anc
country as well.
Other yearlings expected to se
some competitive action ar
Charles Babcock, and all-aroun
performer, who should work him
self somewhere into the lineup
and Dave Heizer.
Good Diving Prospects
Michigan's diving team, despit
the unfortunate death of coac
Bruce Harlan, should be one o
the best squads in collegiat
- swimming ranks. Only Ohio State7
e with returning NCAA champion,
p Sam Hall, and bright newcomer
d Lou Vitucci, is expected to give
the Wolverines stiff competition.
e The 'M' squad has a nucleus ofj
e four returning divers and one
d sophomore.
- Leading these lettermen is Joe
, Gerlach, who won the National
AAU crown. Bob Webster, a fifth1
place finisher in the AAU, is div-
e ing in the number two slot. Alex
h Gaxiola, a finalist in the NCAA'si
f and Mexican national titlist, and;
e Ernie Meissner, sixth in the,
NCAA, complete the foursome of
veterans.
Sophomore Ron Jaco, Detroit
city champion, is also very prom-
ising and that his squad on the
whole is one of the best in the na-
tion.
As for the team championships:
"Indiana is going to be our
toughest rivals," said Stager.
"They have a terrific team and
could possibly beat us in a dual
meet; however, in the Big Ten
and NCAA's, we should win over
them on superior depth."
1 ti
SHOP
FROM
E
RLY
HOME
4,
NCAA TROPHY-Michigan men accept the NCAA swimming
trophy at the meet held at, Cornell last winter. The late Bruce
Harlan, diving coach, Cy Hopkins, swimming captain and Gus
Stager, swimming coach, (left to right) receive the trophy from
host coach Bob Kane of Cornell.
L
"KNOW-HOW" acquired over 75
years of bookselling experience has
enabled us togather stocks of USED
TEXTBOOKS from all over the Na-
lion.
Our Staff has spent months com-
piling accurate information from
the University faculty as to their
book requirements this fall.
Complete and mail to us the at-
tached coupon to get your books
early and avoid the last - minute
rush.
4
..
.T
PRACTICE SESSION-Swimming practice in Michigan's Olympic-size pool, one of two located in the Intra-Mural building. A separate
diving area is provided so that swimmers and divers can work out at the same time. The pool has seven lanes which can be utilized in the
event of a championship meet.
Your Campus Sh% eCenter
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