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Show SWIMMING In the nine-year history of the Western Athletic Conference, no team has dominated any sport like Utah has dominated swimming. The Ute swimmers, under Coach Don Reddish, collected their ninth WAC championship in 1971 despite strong indications to the contrary during the dual meet season. Prior to the WAC meet at the Brigham Young University pool in Provo, Utah dropped five of 14 dual meets to three conference opponents. The Utes were crushed by Colorado State twice (44-67, 28-83), lost a pair to BYU (38-75, 54-59) and bowed to New Mexico (49-64). But in the eight-team championship meet, depth means more than frontline strength, and Utah had five more points worth than CSU and New Mexico. The Utes totaled 399 points to 394 each for the Rams and Lobos. BYU was fourth with 324 points. Senior Steve Elsnab was the only Ute to garner an individual championship, and he did it twice-in the 100 and 200 yard backstroke events. During the season, seven Utah swimmers qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in Ames, Iowa. Senior Rob Kittel qualified in three relays, the 400 and 800 freestyle and 400 medley, and Elsnab swam the 100 backstroke and medley relay. Other Utes who qualified were Gary Conrad in the 200 individual medley and 200 butterfly, Tom Eiche in the 100 and 200 butterfly and medley relay, Cliff Johnson in the 200 and 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke, and Biff Rummerfield and Craig Burns in relays. In order to qualify for the NCAA meet, a swimmer must turn in one of the top 10 times in the nation or equal the previous year's third place NCAA time. L-R Front Row: Tom Doxey, Jon Nielsen, Spence Mortensen, Carl Owens, Norris Udy, Bruce Boyle, Bob Newton, Cliff Johnson, Phil Gilson, Rick Sebert, Tom Eiche. Middle Row: George Chernich, Craig Burns, Julio Piedfort, John Buchanan, Lion Kauffmann, Lyle Stott, Jeff McDaniel, Bill Leefland, John Ziebarth, Chris Spelius, Rob Kittel, Coach Jim Rasmussen. Back Row: Mike Rockwell, Casey Jackson, Steve Elsnab, Rick O'Toole, Brent Larsen, Gary Conrad, Russ Lauber, Ron Shephard, Scott Hamann. Biff Rummerfield, Coach Dave Gray, Head Coach Don Reddish. 228 |