North Central College Athletics

The North Central College men's swimming team repeated as national champions in 1962, claiming the second of three consecutive NAIA titles and winning seven events.

Under new head coach John Molitor ’60, North Central broke eight NAIA records and piled up 125 points while Detroit Tech was the runner-up for the second straight year with 75. Dick Blick '62 repeated as victor in his three chosen freestyle events, becoming a four-time champion at the 200- and 500-yard distances and setting a record at 500 yards that would stand for more than 20 years. Larry Michelson ’64 won the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events, Jim Hartzell ’65 claimed the first of four straight national titles in the 200-yard backstroke, and Al Corrigan ’65 prevailed in the 200-yard individual medley. Hartzell, Byron Ware '68, Michelson and Corrigan won the 400-yard medley relay while Roger Kiekhofer ‘64, Wylie Griffith ‘65, Ruben Roca '62 and Dave Seyfried ’64 placed first in the 400-yard freestyle relay. 

Roster: First Row: Gary Gehrke (trainer), Ernie Alix, John Molitor (head coach). Second Row: Jim Stewart, Larry Michelson, Ruben Roca, Lynn Rickert, Raul Martin, Bruce Bettey, John Sweeney, and Bruce Nitsche. Third Row: Dave Seyfried, Jim Hartzell, Byron Ware, Ian Wilson, Roger Kiekhofer, Alan Corrigan, Dick Blick, and Wylie Griffith.