Hall of Fame
North Central College’s competitive success in men’s swimming and diving in the 1950s and 1960s yielded the first four national championships in the school’s storied athletic history. The first was captained by freestyle and butterfly specialist Jim Rank ’58.
A three-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national champion and 10-time College Conference of Illinois (CCI) titlist, Rank was a part of four CCI Championship teams and a key figure in North Central’s dominant performance at the 1958 NAIA National Championships at Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in Muncie, Ind., when the Cardinals scored 88 points to easily outdistance second-place Central Michigan University’s total of 54 ½.
When Rank arrived on campus as a freshman in 1954, he set his sights on making his mark as part of what was already a successful program, as North Central was coming off its fourth consecutive CCI team championship.
“Having met several of the seniors during my pre-enrollment visit, I formed a real good impression of the entire campus and, of course, the swimming program,” he recollects.
The freshman emerged as a major contributor at the 1955 CCI meet, placing first and establishing conference records in the 150-yard individual medley and 300-yard medley relay. As a sophomore, he once again swam on the winning 300 medley relay in addition to earning titles in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, setting CCI records in all three events. After winning the 400 freestyle relay and 200 butterfly at the 1957 CCI meet, he led the charge in a masterful performance at the 1958 championships, winning the 50 and 100 freestyle along with the 400 freestyle relay as the Cardinals established CCI records in all 10 events.
North Central set six national records at the 1958 NAIA Championships, with Rank establishing new bests in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, in addition to a national title in the 50 freestyle. After the NAIA meet, Rank and his roommate, diver John Mizanin ’58, went on to become the first Cardinals to participate in the NCAA National Championships at the University of Michigan.
“My senior year, we had a great season with a great bunch of guys,” Rank says. “We were like a big family. That’s the way swimmers are, they become very close.”
The accolades gained in the swimming pool were part of a well-rounded collegiate experience for Rank, who also served as president of the Southeastern Club and general co-chairman of the Varsity Club as a North Central senior.
“I had the opportunity to take part in many activities during my four years,” he adds. “It was rewarding being a part of the campus.”
