Champaign Central High School Boys Swimming

2009 – Coach Matt Hopkins.   This year's boys swimming team had another outstanding season. Coach Matt Hopkins was named Sectional coach of the year and led the unstoppable seniors Mike Lacine, Colin McGill, Scot Chapman, Max Foltz, Robbie Crow, and Joel Yambert to yet another memorable year. With the help of Sophomore Tanner Heinen, and Freshmen Blake Lehmann, Sam Stewart, and Joey Faullin, the team won both the Sectional Championships and the Twin City Title for the second year in a row. Thomas Hlikna and Tyler Tester were the divers this season and did a great job. Senior leaders Mike Lacine and Colin McGill  went to State individually as well as in relays. Scot Chapman, Tanner Heinen, Blake Lehmann, and Sam Stewart are the fellow relay members making it to State. Mike Lacine performed very well with a tenth place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, and eighth in the 200-yard individual medley. This made him the team MVP, along with other honors such as the News Gazette's All Area Swimmer of the Year for the second year in a row. 

 

2008 – Coach Matt Hopkins.   The 2008 Central boys swim team had a season that only got better as it went along. Although they had their share of losses, the year was a great improvement from the 2007 season. The team's dual record was 5-1, and at the end of the season they were able to win the Twin City Meet. The team was lead by five seniors including Andy Brunson, Joe Hadler, Rob Miles, Ben Peden, and Daniel Robinson. Although the seniors were a great contribution to the team, the juniors Scot Chapman, Colin McGill, and Mike Lacine were just a few of the other amazing swimmers who led the team to their many victories. Throughout the season, the team worked on their strokes, times, and other important skills that eventually led them to their Twin City win. By the end of the season, the team had enough skill and determination to place second at the Big 12 meet. Central then had the exciting accomplishment of winning their Sectional and qualifying five of their members for State. Mike Lacine was the highlight at State, placing 9th in the 100 meter breaststroke.

 

2007 – The 2007 Boys swim season was a good one for the boy's swimming and diving teams. Advancing to Sectionals as a team, they ended their winning season strong. They had four swimmers advance to State on the individual level. These swimmers were Jon Vimr, Michael Lacine, Rob Miles, And Colin McGill. The team was led to victory this year by their dynamic coaches Will Barker and Matt Hopkins. The team enjoyed many top finishes in several very competitive tournaments throughout the season. These hard earned titles included finishing second at the Champaign Centennial Charger Invitational. The boys' team also placed third at the Bloomington High School Invitational. The team relied greatly on the seniors, Nico Perez, Jon Vimr and Sophomore Mike Lacine. 

 

2006 – The 2006 boys swim team had a fantastic season in the pool. The Maroons were led by a list of strong seniors. The Maroons took first place in the Bloomington invite, Charger invite, and the Twin City Championships. Tyler McGill and Ross Moore set pool records and personal records throughout the season. The Maroons had even more success by winning both the Big 12 Conference and the Sectional Championship. At State, Tyler won the 200 meter Freestyle and placed 2nd in the 500 meter Freestyle. Ross won the 100 meter Butterfly and placed 2nd in the 200 meter IM. The Maroons finished 5th as a team and were quite pleased with the results. This year's team was filled with talented swimmers, and next year's swim team is looking forward to taking on the challenges of filling the departing seniors' shoes.

 

2005 – The 2005 boys' swimming and diving team had another season to remember. After being Big 12 Champions last year with returning State Champion Tyler McGill, the team was predicted to do well. However, the team did beyond well. As a whole the team placed first in all but two meets during the regular season. Throughout the season the team was led by juniors Tyler McGill, Ross Moore, and Nick Lore. Also leading was senior Tucker Strang. At the Big 12 Conference the team captured their third Conference title in a row. The team went to Sectionals and grabbed the Sectional title, making that their third in the past three years. The boys had an amazing Sectional meet, advancing to State in seven events including Daniel Beaudoin in diving. At State Tyler McGill placed first in the 100 backstroke and the 200 freestyle. Ross Moore placed third in the 100 fly and fifth in the 200 IM. With these four events and the help of the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, and 400 free relay, the Central boys' swimmming team placed fifth at State. With the return of many juniors next year, the swin team has a bright future ahead of them.

 

2004 – (9-2/7-0) Coaches Will Barker and Matt Hopkins, predicted to do well, did beyond; whole team placed 1st in all but 2 meets during the regular season, led by juniors Tyler McGill, Ross Moore, and Nick Lore and senior Tucker Strang. At Big 12 Conference, the Maroons received their got 3rd Conference title in a row, got Sectional title 3rd time in the past 3 years, advanced to State in 7 events including Daniel Beaudoin in diving, at State Tyler McGill placed first in 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle, Ross Moore placed 3rd in the 100 fly and 5th in the 200 IM, team placed 5th at State.

 

2003 – Coaches were Will Barker and Matt Hopkins.  The boys swimming and diving team had a fantastic season.  The Maroons took home first place at the Bloomington Invitational, Charger Invitation, Waubonsie Pentathalon, and Twin City Championship.  Also, swimmers broke multiple pool and meet records across the area.  The Maroons ended the season with more success and won the Big 12 Conference and Sectional Meets as well as qualifying many swimmers for the State Finals.  At State, Ross Vimr placed 8th in the 500 year freestyle, Ross Moore placed 4th in the IM, and Tyler McGill became the State Champion in the 200 year freestyle.  In addition, the Maroons placed 12th in the Medley relay and 9th in the 400 yard relay.

 

2002 – Coach Jeff Trigger. The boys’ swimming and diving team was left with just two seniors, focusing much of the attention on the younger swimmers.  With returning top finishers Ross Wimr, Franklin To, and Elliott McGill, and new freshman star Tyler McGill, the Maroons looked for a stellar season.  Alan Einck and J. T. Whitmer took on the senior leadership roles by themselves.  The team had an excellent season, finishing undefeated and placing first in the Bloomington Invitational, The Charger Invitational, and the Twin City Meet.  Also, the team beat Centennial and other rival teams for the first time in years.  The Maroons finished the season by winning the Big 12 Conference meet and the Sectional meet.  Ross Vimr, Franklin Ti, Alan Einck, Tucker Strang, Elliott McGill, J. T. Whitmer and Tyler McGill all qualified for the state meet.

 

2001 – Coaches Jeff Trigger & Will Barker.  Captain Drew Mitchell.  After last year’s success of Phenom, Dan Trupin, Central looked for continued success in 2002.  At the Bloomington Invite, Central tied for 1st with a career performance by Joe Pellum.  Central finished 2nd at the Charger Invite and the Twin City meet.  They also placed highly in the Big 12 meet.

 

2000 – (6-1) Coaches Jeff Trigger and Will Barker.  Captains Dan Trupin and Noah Morgan.  The 2000 boys swim team had a great year.  Once again the swimmers were coached by Jeff Trigger and were led by great swimmers like Dan Trupin, Drew Mitchell, Allan Einck and Jamie Welman and newcomers Tony Griglione, Ross Vitmar, Franklin To, and Elliott McGill.  The team won all of their home meets and most away meets.  They placed high at many invitationals and got second in the Twin City meet.  Dan Trupin had a great year breaking many school, pool, and meet records.  He now holds every swimming record for Central, and all but one Unit 4 Pool record. 

 

1999 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Will Barker.  Captains Ben Trupin, Ken Sensenbrenner, and Tommy Lockman.  The ‘99-’00 boys swimming and diving season has turned out well.  Beating teams like Urbana, Danville, Normal Community, and Normal U-High, the team earned a winning season at dual meets.  The swimmers also placed high at invitational meets such as the Bloomington Invitational, The Charger Invite, and the Carl Sandburg Invitational.  The team plans to place high in the Big 12 Conference meet, at Sectionals and at State

 

1998 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Will Barker.  Dan Trupin broke the school record in the 100 breast stroke with a time of 59.41.  This record was set 18 years ago, and Trupin topped it by 62 hundredths of a second.  The Maroons finished second at the Bloomington Invite, third at the Charger invite, and fourth at the Carl Sandburg Invitational in Chicago.

 

1997 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller. Will Sensenbrenner won the 200 yard freestyle at the Al Gilburg Invitational in Chicago with excellent time.  Brad Barker also broke his own school record in the 100 yard backstroke at the Twin City Meet.  This year’s swim team was one of the best in the school’s history.  The seniors on the squad have never lost a dual meet and have also had many impressive victories during their four years.  One of the highlights this season came at the meet at Carl Sandburg High School.  Will Sensenbrenner, Evan Parker-Stephen, John Townsend, and Tommy Lockman were victorious in the 200 yard freestyle relay.  The 400 yard freestyle relay also won

 

1996 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller.  Brad Barker broke the school record in the 100 Backstroke.  Sensenbrenner, Sinder, Barker, Butler, Reynolds, Schmidt, and Parker-Stephen all qualified for state.  Undefeated in dual meets for the third consecutive year.  Winners of Conference and Sectionals.  Placed first at the Bloomington Invitational, Charger Invite, Sandburg Invite, and Twin City Meets.  Central’s swimming teach is regarded as the best team in downstate Illinois.

 

1995 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller.  The 1995 Central Boys’ swim team has emerged as a future dynasty in the Big 12 and Sectional regions.  Returning as Sectional Champs, past lettermen, including Brad Barker, Will Sensenbrenner, Nick Schmidt, Charlie Blixen, Jeff Piper, Will Freyman, Evan Parker-Stephens, and Brent Snyder, led the team early with the help of a core group of freshmen.  Central consistently out-matched their opponents and went undefeated in dual meets.  Other big wins for the team included the Bloomington Invitational and Charger Invitational.  Central moved on to the Big 12 Conference and Sectional meets, finishing respectfully in each and advancing some members to the state finals.  As for the upcoming years, Central Swimming is on the rise.  Freshmen such as Mark Sinder, John Townsend, Derek Deschler, John Sheets, and Brian Flood offer strength in every event.  Divers Josh Oliver and Terrance Butler also added to the team’s contributions. 

 

1994 – (7-0) Coaches Trigger and Miller. The Central boys’ swim team has done quite well this year.  With the addition of freshman standouts Will Sensenbrenner, Brad Barker, Nick Schmidt, Evan Parker-Stephens, and Brent Snyder the team is sure to go far this season.  The captains led the team to a 1st place finish in the Charger Invitational.  Charlie Evans placed 2nd in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 23.44 seconds.  Paul Thurston won the 100 yard breaststroke with an impressive time of 1:05.25.  Will Sensenbrenner placed 1st in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:00.48.  Junior Josh Oliver placed 4th in diving with a final score of 293.90.  Also notable was Brad Barker’s 3rd place finish in the 200 yard individual medley with a time of 2:12.13.  Though at the time of this writing Conference hasn’t occurred, Central hopes to do well. 

 

1993 – (1-8) Coaches Trigger and Miller. Central boys’ swim team may not have won any state championships, but they sure have put out enough effort for one.  While Central’s overall dual meet record is only 1-8 (they beat Bloomington), this years team shows a lot of promise for some possible conference and sectional championships in the next couple of years.

 

1992 – Coaches Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller.  Swimming has gone quite well for the Central Maroons this year.  Though the team suffered the loss of several senior swimmers from last year, they were able to bounce back and become the formidable competitors they are this year.  The upper classmen have provided a large amount of help in that area.  Elliott Rodgers, though only a junior, is the team’s most experienced swimmer and best breast stroker.  Robb Scott and Dave Butler are two of the team’s seniors that help in the areas of backstroke and freestyle.  Pat Elder is not only the most improved swimmer on the team, starting only last year, but his is the best butterflyer and all around swimmer.  Though Conference hasn’t occurred as of the time of this writing, the team expects to do well.  They hope to place first or second and will focus on Urbana as their main competitor. 

 

1991 – Coaches Jeff Trigger & Bob Miller.  Team commitment and hard work really paid off this year, as it does every year for the Central boys swim team.  With a winning record of 6-1, the team proved too many people that you don’t have to have been swimming since you were six to contribute to winning.  Centennial is and always will be a rival with Central.  This year something extraordinary happened when the two teams tied!  This was the first tie ever for Central!  The team was also led by three strong captains, Adam Siegel, Justin Waddell, and Jeff Kamerer.  Many other people contributed to the team this year; divers Scott Burton and Sam Phillipe, and Freshman swimmers Charlie Evans and Paul Thurston.

 

1990 – The 1989-90 Central Boys’ Swim Team showed central that when the going gets tough, the tough works even harder.  This past year Central lost Rick Vogt and Chris Balke.  Even though they were really missed, the team pulled together and trained even harder.  Seniors Darryl Rodgers and Adam Hausserman took over.  They trained the new freshmen and molded them to act as future leaders. 

 

1989 – Coaches Miller & Trigger.  People around the Big 12 Conference say of the Central Water Barriers, “They’re cocky, they’re salacious, and boy, are they down right unmerciful!”  The Barriers earned their domineering reputation by swimming to a 7-1 Big 12 conference record.  The team’s depth, leadership, and dedication to their sport have made the season a most successful one.  The future looks bright as they hope to defend their Big 12 Conference and sectional titles and return once again to the state swim finals.

 

1988 – Call them amiable, call them stubborn, call them salacious, call them cocky; but whatever you call them make sure the word “undefeated” is in your statement.  No matter how you look at it, the Central swim team is good.  They have power, depth, and leadership.  They have gone through the Big 12 like terrorists.  They leave other swimmers lying on the deck begging for Central to show pity toward them.  But Central will never show pity.   These boys can compete.  They have an arsenal of at least six State contenders who did do damage to the Chicago teams at State.  People may think the loss of Will Lane has devastated the team.  But the sharp sting of Will leaving has been reduced to a mere pin prick with the help of newcomer Morten Anderson.  Morten has come in and helped the team with not only good swims but also leadership.  Other leaders on the team include captains Russ Hatch and Andy Schuster as well as Divers Steve Hutchings and Dan Shoemaker. 

 

1987 – Coaches Trigger and Miller.  The 1987 Champaign Central Swim Team set many pre-season goals.  One goal was to beat Bloomington, a team which had won the conference six years in a row.  Central reached this goal the 1st meet of the season; they beat Bloomington by 30 points at Bloomington.  The 2nd goal for this team would be to win conference.  Central became conference champions by defeating Bloomington, Centennial, Urbana, Normal, and Danville at Bloomington.  The 3rd goal was for the team to show improvement through the season.  Many swimmers bettered their times consistently during the season.  The swim team was led by Will Lane.  Will is a sophomore and set two events and led-off conference record setting 200 Medley Relay.  Will qualified for state in all the events that he swims.  The 200 Medley Relay consists of Andy Schuster, Alex Rogers, and Darrell Rodgers; Darrel is only a freshman.  The two divers qualified for state while Steve Hutchings was conference champion and Dan Shoemaker was runner-up. 

 

1986 – Coaches Miller & Trigger.  This year the team has increased in talent with the addition of two members a freshman, Will Lane, is very talented in the backstroke and distance events.  The other member is Spencer Atkins who moved to Champaign from Monticello.  Spencer, a junior excels at butterfly and the I.M.  With the addition of these two members the medley relay became state material.  To help swimmers improve, Coach Trigger had the team concentrate on trying to break the pain barrier.  The team did this and successfully improved.  During the course of the season, Bloomington lost three of their members in a car accident.  Aside from that, Central knew that they still had to work hard to beat this highly ranked team.

 

1984 – (8-2) Coach Jeff Trigger, best record for Central in eight years, 2nd place in Conference and District, Captain Kevin Crowley, “destroyed Centennial and Urbana”.

 

1983 – (3-6) Coach Jeff Trigger. The 1983 swim team is definitely a team to be watched with returning lettermen Whitty Whitesell, Steve Froeschel, Kevin Crowley, Dillan Jones, Brian Brown and Charlie Lane.  They got off to a slow start by losing their first meet, an Invitational.  Their second meet was a close one against Bloomington, one of the best teams in the conference.  The team went to Centennial wanting to “Kill the Chargers” and did by 25 points.  Central finished the season with a 3-6 record.  They placed 5th in the conference and 4th in the district.

 

1982 – (2-7) Coach Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller, 7 lettermen returning from last season, times dropped throughout season, record same as last year, victories over Kankakee, Eastridge and Normal Community, 5th at Big 23 meet in Springfield with 130 points, at Sectionals placed 6th.

 

 

 

 

1981 – (6-2) Coaches Jeff Trigger and Bob Miller. 

 

“More Central students tried out this year than ever before, but we had less experience that we’ve had in years past.” ~Coach Jeff Trigger. 

 

However, the dual meet records certainly did not reflect the Coach’s concerns; moreover, some outstanding individual records were set including:  John Tompkins (200-yard individual medley/201.9 seconds); Bill Hobbs (100-yard Freestyle/47.6 seconds to place 5th in State and 50-yard freestyle/21.65 to place 2nd in State); Jeff Parkhill (Diving/234.05 points); Andy Fletcher (100-yard breast stroke/100.03 seconds to place 4th in State); and Rob Lane, Andy  Fletcher, John Tompkins and Bill Hobbs (Medley Relay/139.4 seconds).  In addition to the records mentioned, the times for the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breast stroke were school records.  Fletcher, Lane, Hobbs, Tompkins and Parkhill had an outstanding senior year and earned their 4th year letter.  Hobbs received special recognition when he was elected to the All-State Swim Team.  Joe Crowley and Marty Kamerer also lettered this year.  Other seniors who contributed to a successful season were George Grubb, Chris Sanders and Brad Walsh.  Trigger also mentioned that Erik Ensrud, Steve Sergiovanni, Kent Whitesell and Mark Neumann deserved recognition.  Divers Don Wroughton (1st in Conference) and Jeff Parkhill (2nd in Conference) were backed up by newcomers Dave Washburn and Gene Beckler.  Returning for next year’s team were two State qualifiers, Wroughton and Phil Brunson.  According to Coach Trigger, the most memorable meet of the season was the Big 12 Conference Meet where Central scored a 2-point upset (257-255) after losing to that same team twice in the year.  They took 2nd in District and tied for 8th in State.

 

1980 – (8-4) Coaches Trigger and Miller.  In spite of the loss of state qualifiers Folts, Sammons, and Cullum, the team faired quite well.  The team had a strong junior class consisting of lettermen John Tompkins, Bill Hobbs, Andy Fletcher, Rob Lane, and diver Jeff Parkhill, who will return their senior year and will probably have an undefeated season.  Central took 2nd in the Big 12 conference and 4th in the District Meet because of a judge’s call, which disqualified the relay team of Lane Fletcher, Tompkins, and Hobbs.  This year’s state qualifiers were Andy Fletcher in the 100 breast stroke, Bill Hobbs in the 50 freestyle, and Jeff Parkhill in the diving event. 

 

1979 – (8-0) Coaches = Trigger and Miller.  The swim team capped an undefeated season with their 5th consecutive Conference and District titles.  Led by Tom Folts placing 4th in the 500 freestyle and 7th in the 200 freestyle, they went ton to finish 13th in State.  School records were set by John Tompkins in the 200 individual medleys and by Tom Folts in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.  The swimmers were led through their season by mike Sammons, Tom Folts, Tom Hill, and Mark Cullum.  Other swimmers who contributed to the outstanding season were Martin Osterhoff, Eric Davis, Tom O’Neill, Bill Hobbs, Rob Lane, Andy Fletcher, John Tompkins, Phil Brunson, and diver Jeff Parkhill.

 

1978 – (6-3) Coach Trigger.  Mr. Trigger’s 77-78 swim teams won both the district and conference titles for the 4th consecutive season.  Led by state qualifiers Mark Cullum, Brian Healy, Tom Folts, Paul Hobbs, and Mike P. Sammons, the team battled to a 6-3 dual meet record and a 15th finish at the state meet.  Coach Trigger said that, “This year was a rebuilding and improving year.”  The swimmers had a good crop of young swimmers which will mean a good season next year.

 

1977 – (9-0) Coach Jeff Trigger.  For the 3rd year in a row, Central’s boys swimming team won the Big 12 Conference and District crowns.  During these 3 years the Maroons were 28-1 in dual meets, including 25 in a row and 9-0 this year.  Seniors Jim Yount, Mark Tomlin and Cary Colwell led an assault on the record books that, when the dust cleared, showed every record but breaststroke and diving in their possession.  They also formed the nucleus for the 1975-76 fifth place state finish and sixth in 1976-77.  Although these 3 were tremendous swimmers, all the impressive statistics could not have been possible without a talented group of swimmers providing depth.  Heading this group were seniors Mike Barenberg and Dana Gray, juniors Paul Hobbs, Mike Langan and Ford Bartholow, and sophomores Tom Folts and Mike Sammons.  Hobbs and Folts both made it to state this year along with Yount, Colwell and Tomlin.  The divers also contributed, as junior Jim Capel and sophomore Mark Cullum supported two-time state meet performer David Johnson.

 

“We’ll be hurt by graduation losses next year, and in order to do well new year the underclassmen have got to come through.” ~ Jeff Trigger

 

1976 – (10-0) Coach Jeff Trigger.  Placed 5th in the state meet.  For the 2nd straight year the Maroons placed 1st in both Conference (setting 5 records) and District (setting 2 records).  They smashed all conference opponents by an average of 50 points per season meet.  The school record book was rewritten during the year.  Jim Yount broke records in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle; Mark Tomlin set marks in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 yard butterfly; and Cary Colwell swam new times in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle.  The 200 medley team (Sandy Leach, Yount, Colwell, and Tomlin) and the 400 freestyle team (Brad Thompson, team captain, Colwell, Yount and Tomlin) also set new records.  In total, 14 school and 17 pool records fell.  The diving team of David Johnson, Jim Capel, and Mark Cullum supported the team by adding points to the total margin. 

 

 

1975 – (9-1) Coach Jeff Trigger.  Early in October Coach Jeff Trigger was asked how he thought the 74-75 swim team would do during the season. 

 

“If we work hard, we stand a good chance to be one of the best swim teams in the State.” 

~ Jeff Trigger

 

Trigger’s prediction came true.  Maroons finished with a dual meet record of 9-1, a 1st place finish in Conference, and a 1st place finish in district.  The only blemish on the Maroons dual record came at the hands of conference power Springfield.  Leading the Maroons were seniors Kirk Hartley, Kirk Wolfinbarger, Steve Capes, Buck Frisbee, Mark Tomlin, juniors Brad Thompson, Sandy Leach, Chuck Davis, and sophomores Jim Yount, Mark Tomlin, Mike Barenberg, and David Johnson.  Many records were broken this year.  Yount broke the Spaulding Pool record in the 100 yard backstroke and 200 freestyle.  The Medley Relay team of Thompson, Wolfinbarger, Capes, and Frisbee set a pool record.  For the 1st time a team coached by Trigger defeated Bloomington twice in dual meets.

 

1974 – (8-2) Coach Jeff Trigger, best overall season since 1967, lost only to Springfield and Bloomington, 3rd in Conference, 2nd in District

 

1973 – (6-5) Coach Jeff Trigger, only 2 seniors and 5 juniors, the rest returning sophomores, 5th at District, 5th at the Kankakee Eastridge Invitational Meet, Danville defeat was their first by Central since 1967, victory at Normal moved Central’s percentage mark over .500, beat Urbana and Danville to take 3rd at Conference

 

1972 - (6-7) Coach Jeff Trigger.  Led by co-captains Bill Johnson and Tim Wilson the Maroons set 5 new records.  Bill Werstler set new records in the 200 freestyle 1:51.3, 200 Individual Medley 2:08.6, 100 freestyle 50.1.  The 400 freestyle 3:57.9 was set by Bill Werstler, Barc Klingel, Stuart Townsley and Tim Wilson.  Champaign also sent two men to state, Eric Langebartel in diving and Bill Werstler in 100 freestyle, and 200 Individual Medley.  Even though the Maroons did not do well statistically, they place 1st in the league with effort and determination.

 

1971 – (5-5) Coach Jeff Trigger.  Champaign Central tankmen seized a season of 5-5 over last season’s 3-7 slate.  The team was coached by Jeff Trigger.  The tankmen placed 2nd in an Invitational held at Kankakee.  Don Barry and Bill Werstler represented Central in the state meet.  Seniors Doug Wilson, Rich Lore, Don Barry, Dave Keeling, and Steve Hayes made up a major part of the team.  Junior Tim Wilson contributed to the success of the season.  Sophomore Bill Werstler gave Central a little more hope for the seasons to come.

 

1970 – (3-7) Coach Jeff Trigger.  In his first year as swim coach, Jeff Trigger led a season in which the Maroon tankers had a chance to build themselves up.  The tankers strived to set new marks with senior lettermen Don Delbert and Jeff Arvidson leading this year’s squad.  Next year’s team will be led by upcoming underclassmen Rich Lore, Steve Hays, Doug Wilson, Clayton Pope, Pete Skaperdas, Brad Arvidson and other qualified tankers.

 

1969 – (4-12) Coach Dick Mulvihill.  In his 2nd year as swim coach, Dick Mulvihill led a building year which gave some good experience to the sophomore-filled squad.  Senior letterman Bob Carpenter tried his best for his final year at Central, and senior diver John McCulley finished the season with only one setback in competition.  Senior Jeff McGill and junior Don Delbert also put in good performances for the Maroon tankmen. 

 

1968 – (1-4) Coach Dick Mulvihill.  Building a team mainly around sophomores and juniors, Central’s swim team rebuilt its squad after losing all but one letterman from the previous year.  Led by new coach, Dick Mulvihill, the swimmers trained and conditioned hard so that, despite their 1-4 midseason record, they displayed marked improvement over the start of the season and held promise for the immediate future of Central swimming.  Staging their meets in the new pool at Centennial High, the swimmers also held their daily morning workouts there, arriving back at CCHS at the end of first hour.  In addition, they lifted weights two nights a week after school in the weight room to prepare their bodies for the physically grueling sport. The team seemed to be strongest in the freestyle sprints and individual medley events.  Seniors making vital contributions to the team’s efforts were John Rogers in the breaststroke and 50 yard freestyle Craig Hays.  Also playing increasingly important roles on the team were Don Delbert, a freestyle, and backstroker Dave Wax, both sophomores.  Composing the largest representation on the team, however, were the junior members.  Led by letterman Chris Bland, whose specialties were the butterfly and individual medley, others included Bob Carpenter in the breaststroke and individual medley, Steve Mill, 200- and 400-yard freestyler, and John McCulley, a diver who also swam the butterfly.

 

1967 – (4-12) Coach Dick Mulvihill, looks ahead for next year, 5th at Conference

 

1966 – (4-2) Coach Ed Fredericks, 5th place at the Normal Invitational Relays despite the absence of several key team members, 14th at the big Riverside-Brookfield Invitational

 

1965 – Coach Ed Frederichs.  The Champaign swimming team started out the season with 3 impressive victories over Danville, 65-30; arch-rival Urbana, 67-27; and Springfield, 65-30.  These first 3 dual meets were highlighted by some outstanding individual performances by Kip Pope, Dave Frerichs, Jeff Trigger, Art Wolfingbarger, Craig Kelsey, and Jeff Tock.  At Bloomington, they were swamped, 68-27, by the powerful defending Big 12 Champions.  Pope and Mike Haley were the only winners for Champaign.  January 9, Champaign brought home a 3rd place trophy from the 25-team Riverside Brookfield Invitational meet.  Gold medal winners were Kip Pope, breaking meet record in the 100-yard breaststroke, and the medley relay consisting of Tom Bonnell, Kip Pope, Dave Frerichs, and Jeff Trigger, which turned in a record breaking time 1:46.6.  Also placing high were Frerichs with a 2nd in the 100-yard butterfly, and the freestyle relay team which placed a strong 6th.  Coach Frederichs attributes the Maroons success to team balance and depth supplied by Jim Keller, Doug Hatfield, Rich Patton, Vernon Eroh, Gary Tummelson, and divers Mike Haley and Chuch Collinson.  Coach Frederichs anticipated some outstanding performances in both the Conference and District competition.

 

1964 – (6-3) Coach Mr. Ed Fredericks.  Champaign beat both Danville and Urbana twice and gained single victories over Springfield and University High of Normal.  Their only losses were to Bloomington twice and Peoria Richwood.  They finished 3rd in the Big 12 and district meets, 6th in the Riverside-Brookfield Invitational, and 13th in the state meet.  Our Maroons placed 9 tankmen in the Big 12 meet.  Junior breaststroker Kip Pope set a conference record as he won the 100-yard breaststroke and later he advanced to the state finals where he finished 3rd.  The 220-yard medley relay team, composed of Jeff Trigger, Dave Frerichs, Art Wolfingbarger, and Pope, also set a record in winning this event.  Frerichs and Vern Tock finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 100-yard butterfly, while Dave Dickey finished 2nd in the 50-yard freestyle, and Jeff Tock finished 3rd in the 220-yard individual medley.  Divers Mike Haley and Mike Carragher also placed high for Champaign.

 

1963 – (8-1) – Coach Tom Stewart.  During the season the Maroons broke 73 records and established new varsity records at the YMCA pool in all events except the 100 yard backstroke.  Leading the assault was senior freestyler Bob Bachman, who broke at least one record per meet. 

Swimming in the 160 yard medley relay team were Vern Tock, Pete Bates, Dave Frerichs, and Tom Trigger.  Bob Bachman, Dave Dickey, Tom Tripper and Dave Florio swam the 200 yard freestyle relay and sprinters included Florio, Bachman, Tom Trigger, Butch Haussermann, Dave Dickey, John Younger, Dave Easterbrook, and Jeff Trigger.  Two future bright spots are the 160 yard individual medley entrants, Steve Vincent and Kip Pope, both sophomores.  Vern Tock and Dave Frerichs, both underclassmen, swam the difficult butterfly giving the Maroons strength next year in this event, too.  Again Coach Stewart turned to underclassmen in the 100 yard backstroke, using Paul Russell and Art Wolfinbarger.  Record breaking Bob Bachman and sophomore Jeff Trigger splashed their way to many one-two finishes in the grueling 400 yard freestyles.  Another senior standout was Pete Bates who, along with Steve Vincent and Kip Pope, turned in many outstanding records for the entire year in the 160 yard freestyle relay.  Handling diving were two juniors, Mike Carragher and Larry Robinson.  These boys should help bolster next year’s squad in their point output.  Of the records broken, nearly half were broken by underclassmen.  This surely indicates that next year’s tankmen will have an excellent chance of repeating as conference and district champions.  After splashing through a 7 and 1 record, the swimmers claimed a victory over Normal University, which was good practice for the tankers due to rougher competition.  A victory over a university team also added another feather to Coach Stewart’s much decorated cap.  This meet served its purpose as the swimmers successfully retained their Big 12 and district crowns as well as lofty state 8th place.

 

1962 – Coach Tom Stewart.  The CHS swimming team enjoyed its most successful season in recent campaigns as it lost only one dual meet and won the Big 12 and Bloomington District Championships.  Coach Stewart gauged the tankers at just the right pace during the year as most boys reached their peak for the Conference meet.  The fine record compiled is especially significant since the team was composed predominantly of underclassmen and supposedly lacked experience.  Another fact that accents the tankers’ success is that CHS does not have a swimming pool; consequently, the boys were excused from 5th hour P.E. class 4 days a week in order to go to McKinley YMCA to work out.  Stewart led the swimmers through the training schedule with Feb. 17, the day of the Big 12 Championships, as a target date.  Some of the team began weight lifting and limited swimming in September.  Official practice, however, began in mid-November.  Until Christmas vacation, workouts principally involved kicking, pulling, and work on stroke mechanics.  During the lay-off for the holidays, the Maroons began intensive interval training which paid off at the end of the year.  Depth and team balance were important factors in the tankers’ success, providing good relay strength and enabling the Maroons to score in almost every event. 

 

1961 – (6-1) Coach Tom Stewart.   Much improved over previous season, lost only one meet to strong Bloomington team.  Took 2nd in Big 12 and District behind Bloomington.  In Big 12 1st place medals won by French Fraker in the 100 yard backstroke, Bob Keller in diving, and the medley relay team of Fraker, Keller, Mike Seims, and Tom Neal. 

 

1960 – (6-1) Coach Tom Stewart, lost only meet to Bloomington, 2nd in Big 12, 2nd in District behind Bloomington, In Big 12 meet 1st place medals won by French Fraker in 100 yard back stroke, Bob Keller in diving, and medley team of Fraker, Keller, Mike Seims, and Tom Neal, 7 returning lettermen for the next year

 

1959 – (7-0)  Coach Tom Stewart.  Bob Keller and Tom Neal led the young team through the season of rebuilding.  The team improved immensely and the hopes for next year are extremely high.  In the Big 12 meet, Bob Keller won for diving, his specialty, and set a new record in total points scored.  Coach Stewart has an optimistic outlook for next year with eight returning letterman.

 

1958 – (3-4) Coach Tom Stewart.  Mediocre season, paced by fast-moving senior Martin Klingel.  Klingel placed high in the State meet and was undefeated in dual meet competition.

 

1956 – (4-4) Coach Claud Meyers.  Champaign’s 2-year old swimming team took 3rd in the Big 12, and 4th in the state meet.  Captain Bill Mulliken, was single-handedly responsible for Champaign’s high ranking in the state met as he won the 200-yard breaststroke eve t and took 2nd in the 150-yard freestyle competition.  Mulliken was likewise a tremendous asset to the team throughout the year.  He remained undefeated in dual meet competition by winning his two events the 200-yard freestyle and the 160-yard individual medley in every meet including the Big 12.  Only slightly less prominent than Mulliken were Bill Wheat and Charlie Younger who won their events in nearly all meets also.  Coach Meyers, who was drafted as swimming coach, depended quite heavily on Bill for assisting him in his duties. 

 

1955 – Coach Frank Sotka.  For the 1st time in 12 years, the CHS pool responded to the starting signal.  The team made a fine 1st year showing by beating Urbana twice.  This is the only team to beat Urbana on all the occasions they met them.  With 17 men reporting at the 1st of the season to try their hand at this sport, ten or eleven participated in the meets.  They worked hard, practicing their turns, because our pool is smaller than most pools and consequently needs more laps in the race.  Our boys got this trick down pat and saved a lot of time in races.  They developed a Big 12 champion in the 200-yard freestyle, Jim Bell. Coach Sotka awarded letters to Captain Bob Winters, Jim Bell, Chris Meyer, Bruce Chester, Don Summers, and Bill Milliken.

 

1942 – (2-2) Coach Swindell, only 2 lettermen returning from last year, complications with transportation because of war

 

1941 – Coach Swindell (5-2), 2nd in the Big 12 and placing in the state meet to close another satisfactory season. Green, Kent, Variams and Sager took fifth in the free style relay in the state meet.

 

1939 – Coach Swindell (3-2), 2nd in the Big 12. Both losses were by Danville and there were 8 letter winners.

 

1938 – Coach Swindell (3-6), 3rd in the Big 12. Nine boys received letters and the swimmers who placed are Richard Benjamin, 3rd in 50 yard sprint; Tom Bradley, 4th in the 100 yard breast and John DuBois, 4th in the 100 yard back.

 

1937 – Coach Swindell, 2nd in the Big 12 even though the whole team consisted of new boys.

 

1935 – Coach Swindell, (3-3), 3rd in the Big 12, seven boys were awarded letters.

 

1934 – Coach Swindell, 3rd in the Big 12, Those placing in the Big 12 meet at Peoria were Howard Russell 3rd in the 50 yard free style, Ross Mayer – 3rd in the breaststroke and Bob Bailey & Don Allison 3rd and fourth respectively in the 100 yard backstroke event. There were 7 seven letter receivers and 3 numerals.

 

1932 – Coach Swindell, The men that placed in the Conference meet were Tom Casper, first in the backstroke event; Captain Russell, second in the dives; Bob Petry, fourth in the same event; Ross Mayer, fourth in the 100 yard breaststroke and Loren Louks, 4th in the 40 yard free style.

 

1931 – Coach Swindell (4-3), 3rd in the Big 12. Three tank record were set: free style relay 1:10, in a medley event, 59.2 and in the 100 yard free style, Mulliken set a record is 18.3.

 

1930 – Coach Swindell, 4th in the Big 12. Dobbins placed a new conference record of 1:16.4 in the 100 yard breast stroke.

 

1929 – Coach Swindell, 3rd in the Big 12. No letterman returned from last year.

 

1928 – Coach Swindell, Swimming was considered a minor sport at CHS but they improved over the years.

 

1927 – Coach Moore; Lierman 1st in the conference, Shauger 4th in dives & 3rd freestyle relay, White 2nd in the backstroke, Olsen, Hill and Bacon 3rd in the freestyle relay.

 

1926 – Coach Moore; Carlson set a new record in the first back stroke with an 1:16.

 

1925 – Swimming has gained popularity and it was established many more competitive within the Big 12. Pay Cunningham established the quote at CHS: “practice make perfect” Champaign 2-3 that year.

 

1924 – (3-5) Coach Dean Brownell and J.T. Collins, first year of swimming, every member of the team is eligible for competition

 

1923 – Coach Crooks was fortunate to have such and clever men. Over 150 spectators attended the meets. It was one of the leading indoor sports of 1923.

 

1922 – The championship was determined with a contest between the Juniors and the Sophomores. The Juniors prevailed with a score of 49-19.

 

1921 – The swimming team was organized but due to various reasons, the team was disbanded.

 

1920 – For the first time in six years, Champaign was represented in a swimming meet. Edgar Settles and Roland Bookless were sent from Champaign to enter the swimming events. The only man who won their heat moved on to further competition, and so Settles was thus eliminated.