Editor’s note: The 1973 Boys Swimming Team was inducted into the Williston Northampton Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 7, 2014 during Reunion weekend. Coach Duff Tyler ’63 gave the following introduction during the ceremony.
Thank you, Jeff, and as coach of this ’73 team I am honored and pleased to be able to be here today. Before I begin the introductions, I would like to tell why they are deserving of this honor. Of course the 12-0 duel meet record tells one story, but who they beat tells the real story: Beating Andover, Exeter, Hotchkiss, Mt. Hermon, and super rival Deerfield, and along the way beating West Point plebes, Coast Guard cadets, and freshmen teams—Dartmouth, Harvard, Williams—and a victory over our nemesis Yale!
Over the previous 20 years, Yale had triumphed over our teams, twice stopping undefeated teams by a single point! But not this year! With the score Williston 47 – Yale 41, and only the free relay (7 points to the winner, 0 for loser), I thought, “Oh no!” But not these guys. They went 1 -2 in the relay, just for good measure!
Now to introduce the team that won the 11th consecutive New England championship:
Co-Captains:
Jan Kaplowitz 3 Event All-American
Chris Stack 2 Event All-American
These two men shared the Williston Babcock award given to team member(s) who combine sportsmanship, academic excellence, and leadership! Chris also won the New England “swimmer of the meet” award.
Seniors:
Wayne Leslie: Individual Medley and Breaststroker supreme for us
Jerry Martin: Med. Relay, strong member of Fliers , New England 200 Free
Jay Cilfone: 1 Event All-American Depth In Breaststroke and Relays
1 Event Honorable Mention All-American
Tom Blake: Freestyle Depth 100 Free New England
(He wrote me, his daughter’s wedding is today! I wrote him, “Okay, flake!”)
Dave Griswald: More Depth Freestyle
Larry Whalen: Backstroke Depth
Underclassmen:
Tim Wallace 3 Event All-American, won 100 Fly after 11th last year
2 older brothers were All-Americans; Shared Most Improved Swimmer
Thom Macdonnell: 2 Event All-American, Best relay swimmer on the team
1 Event Honorable Mention All-American
Scott Nicholson: 1 Event All-American, 1 Event Honorable Mention
Will the four members of this team who swam the 200 free relay step forward? They represent four of fastest 15 times in the country in 1973—a very rare event. It broke a 10-year-old record!
Mark Mcquade: Strong Freestyler
Carlton Cronin: Independent Medley and Distance Freestyle. He shared most improved.
Jay Donovan: Was our backstroke main man, also IM
Tad Dziemian: Strong fly, free, great for relays
Ed Kadunc: Our diver, some breaststroke
Steve Thurber: Breaststroke depth