Marcia Cleveland is One in A Thousand
This might ruffle some feathers but it needs to be brought to everyone’s attention. Unless proven otherwise Marcia Cleveland may be ISHOF’s longest running member! From as far back as I can remember, I have always seen the name Marcia Cleveland coming in regularly to pay her annual membership dues. Not trying to date myself here but I’ve been working at ISHOF for over 30 years, not including when I hung around the pool as a child.
As if she couldn’t impress me anymore, in addition to her annual dues, Marcia joined ISHOF’s One in a Thousand campaign. This initiative is designed to help the Hall of Fame prosper during the COVID pandemic and the construction.
When asked why she donates to ISHOF annually, as well as becoming a member of the One in 1,000 club and what ISHOF means to her, this is what Marcia had to say:
‘When I was 8 or 9, I remember visiting the Hall in Ft. Lauderdale,” Marcia said. “I was in awe of all the honorees as well as the volume of information about aquatics concentrated in one spot. I could have spent days there taking it all in. I knew I wasn’t the type of swimmer who would ever be inducted, but I kept on swimming for the next five decades simply because I loved it. Then one day I got a phone call letting me know I was selected as an honoree into the Marathon Branch. My induction made me realize that all the honorees arrive at the Hall through different channels.”
“Throughout the aquatics world, I’ve always felt the prevalence of decency and goodness,” said Marcia. ”People are approachable and down-to-earth; the commonality of water bridges a lot of gaps.”
“It’s a community like this I choose to support. Throw in my love of swimming and the desire to preserve its history is what has made me an annual contributor to ISHOF for a very long time. To play even a small part in sustaining ISHOF year after year is a simple, easy action and one that truly matters. I invite you to join me in supporting this great organization. “
Marcia Cleveland has been a swimmer all her life. After a successful age group and collegiate career, she began swimming Masters (USMS) in her early twenties. Shortly thereafter, she discovered Open Water Swimming, and the tranquility and challenge it offers.
Marcia enjoys competing in swims and races around the world. She holds the record for the fastest cumulative time for the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown, as you can imagine, is quite an impressive feat. It consists of three swims: the English Channel (Dover, England-Calais, France), the Catalina Channel (California) and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (New York City). In addition to the triple crown, Marcia ranks second in the Grand Slam Rankings.
On top of the Triple Crown, she has completed many other exciting, yet quite arduous swims: The North Channel (21 miles) for one.
Her book, “Dover Solo” depicts the training and preparation she did for her English Channel crossing. It has become a “must read” for all those who are “serious” open water swimmers. Marcia also runs an informative and comprehensive website, DoverSolo.com, which includes logs for all her marathon swims.
Besides her personal aquatic achievements, Marcia instructs, advises, coaches and certifies water enthusiasts. Since 1995, she has coached open water swimmers, helping a multitude of them successfully achieve major long distance marathon swims. She coaches a USMS/Masters team with over 30 swimmers. Marcia has served on USMS swimming committees and was Chair of the USMS Open Water Long Distance Committee for four years.
Marcia lives in the Chicago, Illinois area with her family, where she currently offers a multitude of services. Those services include personal training, clinics, coaching at all levels, ARC Lifeguard Certification, including CPR, AED and First Aid Training. If you are planning a swim starting from the shores of Dover or Calais, I think we have just the person to train you!
Join Marcia and become a member of the One in a Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.
$10 Monthly Commitment$25 Monthly Commitment$50 Monthly CommitmentMake a One-Time Commitment
For larger corporate sponsorships and estate-planning donations, please contact us at customerservice@ishof.org.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame wants to know if you are one in a thousand? We think you are! Show how special you are and become a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One In A Thousand” Club. Help keep the International Swimming Hall of Fame moving forward toward a new vision and museum by joining now!
During these unprecedented times, the ISHOF Board is calling on every member in the aquatic community to make a small monthly commitment of support to show how special you are and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
“Our goal is simple. If we get 1,000 people to simply commit $10, $25 or $50 per month, we will generate enough revenue to go beyond this Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis.” – Bill Kent – Chairman of the ISHOF Board
“Those that believe in our vision, mission, and goals can join us in taking ISHOF into the future and be a part of aquatic history.” – Brent Rutemiller – CEO and President of ISHOF
Since 1965, ISHOF has been the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics, promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational programs and events related to water sports. ISHOF’s vision for the future is to build a new museum and expand its reach by offering its museum artifacts digitally through a redesigned website.
The ISHOF Board of Directors is calling on all members of the aquatics community to make a small monthly commitment to show their dedication to aquatics and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
ISHOF Honoree, Jeannette Campbell’s grandson, Tonas Kelly visits ISHOF today, February 2, 2022
Today, ISHOF had a special visit from ISHOF Honoree, Jeannette Campbell’s grandson, Tonas Kelly. Jeannette was inducted into ISHOF as an Honor Swimmer in 1991 and flew in from Buenos Aires to be present for her induction. Jeannette was nearing her 80th birthday. She was a very special woman and we were happy to welcome her family to ISHOF today, many years later
Jeannette Campbell (ARG)
Honor Swimmer (1991)
Jeannette, 1936 Olympian
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1936 silver (100m freestyle); ARGENTINA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (100m freestyle); SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (100m freestyle).
While Hall of Famer Maria Lenk of Brazil was setting the South American breaststroke and backstroke records, Jeannette Campbell of Argentina was setting the freestyle records.
During the 1930s, women’s sports in South America were in their infancy. The first South American Swimming Championships were held in 1935 in Brazil. Jeanette won the 100 meter freestyle as she did in Uruguay, 1937; Peru, 1938; and Ecuador, 1939. She joins Alberto Zorrilla, 1928 400 meter champion, as one of the finest Argentine swimmers of all time.
Jeanette’s greatest achievement was the silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. She finished second behind Holland’s Hendrika Mastenbroek, who swept all the women’s freestyle events. Holland’s success in the sprint freestyle events began in 1933 when Hall of Famer Willy den Ouden became the first woman to break the one minute mark in the 100m freestyle and held the world record for 23 years.
ISHOF Calling for Paragon Award Nominations
The International Swimming Hall of Fame announces the call for nominations for the 2022 Paragon Awards to be presented at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Weekend, October 14-15, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale. Sponsored by Pentair Aquatic Systems, the awards are presented each year for outstanding contributions and leadership in several swimming and aquatic-related categories.
Candidates may be nominated for the Paragon Awards in the following categories:
Competitive SwimmingCompetitive DivingCompetitive Artistic SwimmingCompetitive Water PoloAquatic SafetyRecreational Swimming
Kindly submit your nominees by March 1, 2022. Please include any relevant data to support your nomination, the aquatic category for nomination, as well as a brief biography of each individual and a high-resolution image.
See more information on the 2021 award winners.
Nominations may be sent to:
Meg Keller-MarvinInternational Swimming Hall of Fame1 Hall of Fame DriveFort Lauderdale, FL 33316Phone: 570.594.4367Fax: 954-525-4031Email: meg@ishof.org
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
About the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Weekend:
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) Induction Ceremony is shaping up to be a star-studded weekend with multiple events spread out over two days in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Make your plans now to attend the weekend of October 14-15, 2022! Information on purchasing tickets will be forthcoming this Spring! (Get info on membership here.) Can’t attend the event? Donate to ISHOF to support our honorees.
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
HONOR SWIMMERS: Michael Klim (AUS), Jon Sieben (AUS), and Daichi Suzuki (JPN)
HONOR DIVER: Matthew Mitcham (AUS)
HONOR WATER POLO: Mirko Vicevic (YUG/MON)
HONOR OPEN WATER SWIMMER: Marilyn Bell (CAN)
HONOR COACH: Ursula Carlile (AUS)
HONOR CONTRIBUTOR: Peter Hurzeler (SUI)
*Several other America/U.S. Honorees will be selected to join the Class of 2022.
*deceased
Celebrated Coach and Longtime Fort Lauderdale resident Terry Carlisle Passes Away
(January 10, 1935 – January 21, 2022)
On January 21, 2022, just a little over a week after he celebrated his 87th birthday, Terry Carlisle of Sonoma, California, passed away. He was a longtime friend of ISHOF, swimming and resident of Fort Lauderdale.
The Carlisle family moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1945, when the patriarch, Malcolm decided to move his family South from Indianapolis. Terry and his brothers, Rusty, and Jack, attended Fort Lauderdale High School, where all three were accomplished swimmers, holding many records, including All-American status. Terry graduated from Yale University in 1955 with an engineering degree and a varsity letter in swimming. He touched many lives as a career swimming coach at the high school and college levels. He was known for his innovative approach to stroke technique and creative workouts.
At the high school level, Terry was a faculty member as well as a coach. He began coaching at his alma mater, Fort Lauderdale High School once he returned home from Yale. He continued on to St. Andrews School, in Boca Raton, just north of Fort Lauderdale. Years later, Terry was inducted into the St. Andrews Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. St Andrew’s had this to say about their inductee, “Terry was the foundation of the powerhouse that is now Saint Andrew’s swimming.”
While at Saint Andrew’s, Terry also coached Freddie Tyler who later went on to represent the USA in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Terry’s last High/Prep School coaching position was at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, a very prominent swimming school. Terry had an illustrious career as a high school coach, from 1959-1972. He produced 32 All-American swimmers and divers. His teams won the Florida State Boys Swimming Championships in 1964 (St. Andrews School), 1967 (Bolles) and again in 1972 (Bolles). In addition to winning the state championships, thrice, Terry’s teams were runner ups six times. As a coach, Terry was honored by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association as Coach of the Year in 1967 and 1972.
In 1972, Terry decided to pursue a master’s degree from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During that time, he and ISHOF honoree Ray Bussard helped guide the Mens Vols to a second place finish in the NCAA Championships. After earning his master’s degree in 1973, he was hired by Florida State University as the head coach of the men’s and women’s team. He stayed with the Seminoles for four years. At FSU, he produced six All-America swimmers and won their conference championship, the National Independent Swimming Championships in 1976. In Terry’s second year at FSU, they beat archrival Florida, for the first time in six years.
He was then recruited by the University of Cincinnati, as the head women’s coach, where two of his daughters Shelley and Kim, would spend the bulk of their high school years. In true Carlisle fashion, in 1979, the girls, whose team, the Finneytown Wildcats, won the Ohio State Swimming Championships. The Wildcats were very much the underdogs, with a small team, no pool to call their own, and a team that couldn’t practice together.
It should also be noted that one of Terry’s daughters, Kim, went on to become an Olympian the next year, in 1980, but the U.S. boycotted
Terry ended his coaching career by returning to Knoxville for three years. Where he served as the head women’s coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Terry eventually retired and moved to Northern California but not completely, as he volunteered to assist the great ISHOF Honor Coach, George Haines at Stanford from 1986 to 1988.
Even though Terry was living in California, he served on the ISHOF Board of Directors for several years. In the mid-2000’s, when new leadership was hired and the entire Board resigned, Bruce Wigo asked Terry to become part of the new Board of Directors to help ISHOF get back on track.
Terry Carlisle gave his life to swimming and the majority of it occurred in the State of Florida. His parents were involved in the Swimming Hall of Fame from the beginning, and even before. His father, Malcolm Carlisle, who at one time was Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, was on the Hall of Fame committees early on. His father was an integral part when the Hall of Fame was first being decided and planned on. He helped raise money through the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Malcolm was also President of the Florida Swimming Association for several years. Terry’s mother, Dorothy, was one of the original, “Hall of Fame Dames.” The women’s auxiliary group that helped and represented ISHOF at its many functions in the early years. She also organized amateur swimming programs in South Florida. Terry and his brothers, Rusty and Jack, grew up swimming and diving at the original Casino Pool, right on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The Carlisle family is one of the reasons why ISHOF is here today and the city of Fort Lauderdale was chosen to be its home.
It’s people like Terry and families like the Carlisle’s that helped ISHOF become the institution it is today and helped put South Florida on the map for swimming and training. Of course, the weather doesn’t hurt either!
Terry Carlisle will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.
ISHOF Feature: Remembering San Francisco’s Sutro Baths
By Bruce Wigo
Located on the ocean side of the southerly entrance to San Francisco Bay’s Golden Gate, the Sutro Baths—built in the 1890s by Adolph Sutro and eventually destroyed in the 1960s—was the world’s largest indoor swimming facility and one of the most amazing recreational and entertainment complexes ever built.
In 1888, Adolph Sutro, “King of the Comstock” and one of the wealthiest men in America, was finally in a position to fulfill a lifelong dream: to build a Public Bath that would rival in magnitude the beauty and utility of the Roman Baths.
Sutro came by his dream naturally enough. He had been born in Aachen, Prussia, a city with a rich history as Charlemagne’s imperial city, known for its thermal springs and bathing culture since Roman times. Long before Charlemagne bathed in the warm waters of his Pfalz, the Romans had discovered Aachen and named the town after the Celtic god of water and health. Today, Aachen remains noted as a spa resort.
Adolph Sutro arrived in California in 1850 at the age of 20 shortly after gold had been discovered at Sutter’s Mill. He was a clothier by trade, a mining engineer by education and an entrepreneurial visionary.
He made his first fortune by solving the problem of ventilating and draining the deep mines of the “Comstock Lode.” Then he used his underground expertise to excavate tunnels for railroads serving the Bay Area. He invested much of his fortune in San Francisco real estate, and by 1881, he owned 10% of all the land in the city, including the Cliff House and a large track of land on the Pacific coast.
BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COMESo what does a boy from Aachen do when he becomes as wealthy as a Roman emperor? He builds a magnificent Public Bath like they did in Rome—and the public rewarded him by electing him mayor of the city before it opened.
For Adolph Sutro, the idea of a beach bathhouse, like those on the East coast in Atlantic City and Coney Island, was impractical. The Pacific Ocean was always cold, and as Mark Twain famously said, the coldest winter he ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco.
So, he decided to build an indoor, heated bathing complex that would rival the architectural and engineering achievements of any bathing establishment built by any Roman emperor or modern pool designer.
Sutro began planning his lavish Bath in 1888 by offering architectural firms a $500 prize for the best design. Local architects C.J. Colley and Emil S. Lemme, who had also designed his magnificent Cliff House, won the prize.
After years of amazing engineering and design work—and a long fight with the Southern Pacific Railway Company for the rights to build a trolley service to get customers from downtown to his natatorium—Sutro Baths “officially” opened in 1896.
THERE’S MORELike the Public Baths of the Roman era, Sutro offered more than just bathing for his customers. There were promenades and pavilions with sequestered alcoves, galleries, many staircases and corridors adorned with artifacts and specimens collected from his travels, including tropical plants and flowers, fountains, Egyptian mummies, Aztec pottery, Chinese swords, stuffed birds and animals and Indian totems.
To continue reading more about the historic San Francisco Sutro Baths,Click here to download the full January issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
Save the Date: October 14 and 15, 2022 for ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies
Mark your calendars now! The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) has selected the dates for the 2022 Honoree Induction Ceremonies and the Paragon/Awards Weekend.
The 57th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction weekend will be held Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Make your plans now to attend!
The Class of 2022 will include the international honorees from the Class of 2021, that were not able to be inducted last year, due to Covid travel restrictions. Those honorees will include: Swimmers: Michael Klim (AUS), Daichi Suzuki (JPN), Jon Seiben (AUS), Diver: Matthew Mitcham (AUS), Water Polo Player, Mirko Vicevic (YUG/MON), Coach: Ursula Carlile (AUS), Open Water Swimmer: Marilyn Bell (CAN), and Contributor: Peter Huerzeler (SUI). The remaining Paragon and other award winners that were not honored in 2021 will be honored in October as well. Join our E-mail list or keep checking www.ishof.org or www.swimmingworld.com for more information or all the latest aquatic news!
The Induction weekend will begin Friday evening, October 14, 2022 and will celebrate the Paragon Award winners, which typically honor six stellar aquatic men /women from the following categories: competitive swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, recreational swimming and aquatic safety.
The other specialty awards honored on Friday evening include: The Buck Dawson Authors Award, The Virginia Hunt Newman Award, The John K. Williams Jr. Adaptive Aquatics Award, The Judge G. Harold Martin Award, The ISHOF Service Award, and others.
On Saturday, October 15, 2022, ISHOF will host, the 57th Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony and Dinner. The event will once again be hosted at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa, located one quarter mile south of ISHOF on beautiful Fort Lauderdale Beach. There may be some additions to the Class of 2022, so keep checking back for any announcements.
The ISHOF Honoree Induction and Dinner will also host its annual silent auction. If you have anything you might want to donate to this year’s silent auction, please contact Meg at meg@ishof.org
*Ask about our Honoree weekend sponsorship opportunities, email ashleigh@swimmmingworld.com for more information
Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center Update by Manager Laura Voet
As 2021 comes to a close, much has been accomplished over the last year with the pool renovations, and most significantly in this month of December. 2022 is going to be an exciting year for our community and the aquatic center with water in the pools!
Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
Renovation Project Photo Gallery December 2021
South Building, 2nd Floor Interior December 17, 2021
South Building Exterior, along Service Road
Dive Well Curb, Concrete Pour December 28, 2021
The dive well will have a sparger “bubbler” system; the curb works to retain the water
Dive Well Pool Deck concrete pour; Pool decks must slope away from the pool to the drain; this work requires technical skill and detailed calculations
South Building, Pool Deck Level
Water and Sewer connection lines to support the South building
December 30, 2021 – Final Workday on the Year!
See you in 2022 for more exciting developments!
ISHOF Paragon Award Winner and USA Swimming Veteran Official Carol Zaleski Awarded FINA Order
by DAVID RIEDER
18 December 2021, 03:26pm
Veteran Official Carol Zaleski Awarded FINA Order
Veteran official Carol Zaleski has been awarded the FINA Order. Zaleski, who is chair of the FINA Technical Committee, a longtime official with a consistent presence on deck at major international competitions and a major figure in swimming in the U.S. for many years, was given an honor considered one of the highest within FINA.
Zaleski was named a Paragon Award winner by the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009 . She was recognized as the first female on-deck official at the World Championships and Olympics.
Read the full press release below:
Carol Zaleski (USA), FINA Technical Swimming Chair & Past President of USA Swimming is the recipient of the FINA Order presented by FINA President Husain Al-Musallam in Abu Dhabi.
The FINA Order is the honor granted by FINA to individuals such as Heads of State, Ministers, Persons of high dignity including Presidents of Organizing Committees for FINA World Championships, Presidents of companies or networks, FINA sponsors, etc.
Only those who have illustrated the ideals, aims and objectives of FINA in the spirit of sport, and with morals, ethics and/or fair play through his/her action, who have achieved remarkable merit in the world of swimming or have rendered an outstanding service to FINA’s cause, either through his/her contribution in the development of swimming, may be admitted to the Order.
The FINA Order will consist of a golden chair in the form of a laurel wreath holding the FINA logo. A diploma and a gold lapel pin, which features a laurel wreath surrounding the FINA logo will accompany it.
Passages: IMSHOF Honoree Ted Erikson, First Man to Cross Lake Michigan and Hall of Famer, Age 93
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE – SENIOR WRITER
02 December 2021
Passages: Ted Erikson, First Man to Cross Lake Michigan and Hall of Famer, Age 93
Ted Erikson, a member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and the first man to cross Lake Michigan, died on Dec. 1. He was 93 years old.
Erikson was inducted to the IMSHOF in 1978. He made his legendary crossing of Lake Michigan in 1961 in difficult conditions. It took 36 hours and 37 minutes for him to get from McCormick Place in Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana. The anticipated journey of 37 miles covered an estimated 43 miles. Erikson lost 17 pounds during the journey.
Ted Erikson; Photo Courtesy: IMSHOF
His open-water feats include becoming the second person to swim the English Channel round-trip when he did so in 1965 over more than 30 hours. He also swam through shark-infested waters in 1967 over 28 miles from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge. (Erikson’s wife was told that he had died due to hypothermia during that swim, though that report was premature.)
After his initial Lake Michigan swim, he also did a 50-mile crossing from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisc. In 35 hours, 37 minutes in 1962, and a 60-mile swim from Chicago to St. Joseph, Michigan, in 37 hours, 25 minutes in 1963.
Born in Montana, Erikson served in the Navy and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked at the university as a research chemist for 21 years and taught math, physics and chemistry at Hammond Technical High School.
He arrived at open water swimming late in life for the health benefits, swimming his first marathon at age 33. He made his first English Channel crossing in 1964.
Erikson was swimming until recently, according to an obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times. He was living in a retirement community in Hyde Park at the time of his death. According to his daughter, Pam Perkins, Erikson’s wish was to have his ashes scattered in Lake Michigan.
Erikson passed on his love of swimming to his, Jon Erikson, a 1981 IMSHOF inductee and a 2014 inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Jon died in 2014. Jon overtook Ted’s record for fastest double crossing of the English Channel in 1979, one of four proteges Ted helped cross the Channel.
Ted Erikson is survived by his daughter, former wife Loretta Bacskai, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Frank Elm, one of the top coaches in U.S. history has died. He was 92.
by DAN D’ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR
01 December 2021
Frank Elm, one of the top coaches in U.S. history has died. He was 92.
Born on Oct 30, 1929, Elm was the head coach for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. He also was an assistant coach for the 1968 and 1976 Olympic Games.
Elm, who also coached the 1967 U.S. Pan American Games team, and two U.S. National Teams that toured Japan in 1975 and the Soviet Union in 1981, was elected to the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame in 2004.
Elm coached at Rutgers for 31 years and was elected to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He developed the women’s program at the school and fought for facilities worthy of the talent and hard work he and his swimmers put in at Rutgers, where he developed 10 Olympic swimmers- two gold medal winners, several Pan Am Games swimmers, five of whom won gold medals. He also tutored several individual and national championship swimmers as well as national relay champions.
He oversaw the development of the women’s swimming and diving program at Rutgers, a team that went undefeated from 1973-75.
Near the end of his career, he was able to help oversee the construction of the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center, one of the finest swimming and diving facilities in America. Elm received the Master Coaches Award from the Swimming Coaches’ Association of America in 1973 and was bestowed with the honor of Loyal Son in 1992 by the Rutgers Alumni Association.
“It is so antiquated it’s disgusting,” Frank Elm told the New York Times about the old facility. “With only four lanes, it limits the size of our teams and our training. Other state schools like Tennessee, with its 32 available lanes, and Penn State, with 12 lanes, make the Rutgers facilities look sick.”
Rutgers has hosted a Frank Elm Invitational in his honor at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center.
Elm came to Rutgers as a successful AAU Coach, New Jersey Interscholastic Champion, All-American from Indiana University and a swimmer-coach in the Marine Corps. His Rutgers team won 39 dual meets in a row, Summit Y Men’s team won 68 meets in a row, and the Summit Y Girls team won 70 meets in a row (never losing a dual meet). Another club Frank Elm coached in the 1950’s won 60 meets in a row and never lost while he was coaching. Frank Elm served on several National Committees and was selected as a Loyal Son of Rutgers in April of 1992.
Frank Elm led the Scarlet Knights at Rutgers from 1961 to 1972 stamped 11-straight winning seasons, with an overall 79-42 record. In 1965, the creation of the Eastern Seaboard Championships brought Rutgers University to a new level, with swimmers such as Bill Clark (’63), Larry Jones, John Wasylyk (’64), Don Galluzzi, Marty Flickenger (’65), and diver Roy Nicholas (’64 – Eastern Champion and NCAA top-eight finisher) as the top performers.
But one of his biggest pioneering roles came when women joined the college swimming ranks.
The 1970’s at Rutgers were best known for the inclusion of the women into the Rutgers program. Olympic swimmer Judy Mellick (’77) became the first female members of the Rutgers team and the first woman to compete with men. She was one of the pioneers as Rutgers transformed into a successful women’s athletic program. The Rutgers women’s swimming program blasted onto the scene under Frank Elm with three consecutive undefeated season (1975-77), with a fierce dominance at the Eastern Championships. The women’s team went on to be the only Eastern team to place in the top ten at the 1977 Nationals. Frank Elm coached 15 swimmers on to earn All-American recognition and many to be come stars of their era, including Mellick, Ellen Wallace, Debbie Franks, Maureen Mortell and Robin Locklair. Wallace went on to represent the USA at the Pan-Am Championships. Frank Elm finished the women’s program in the 1970’s with a 70-20 record.