Utilizing maximum efforts from every man, the swimmers from North Central College captured their third consecutive championship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics last weekend in the national meet held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The win for Coach John Molitor's team was the fourth national tittle in the past six years and is the second since Molitor took over the coaching reigns at the start of last season.

The Cardinals rolled over the opposition by compiling nine first places out of 17 events during the three-day meet and set a total of six NAIA records. North Central's team point total added up to 101 and runner-up Macalester had only 54.

Corrigan set six new records in winning three events. His 5:15.3 for the 500-yard freestyle established both NAIA and North Central records while his 1:52.5 did the same in the 200-yard freestyle and his 2:07.6 repeated the trick in the 200-yard individual medley.

Michelson set both NAIA and North Central records in the 100-yard butterfly at :55.0. He also won the 20-yard butterfly in 2:09.9 but did not establish records in that event. Bruce Nitsche finished third in this event and Kermit Kolstad fourth. Kolstad also got a fourth in the 400-yard individual medley.

Hartzell won the 100-yard backstroke in :58.3 but his :57.3 qualifying time set a new NAIA record. His 2:04.8 in the 200-yard backstroke also set a new NAIA record. Kiekhofer won the 100-yard freestyle in :50.4 and took a second in the 50-yard freestyle.

The Cardinal 400-yard medley relay team of Michelson, Kiekhofer, Hartzell and Byron Ware also established both NAIA and North Central records in the event at 3:48.8. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Michelson, Hartzell, Corrigan and Kiekhofer finished third in their event.

Lynn Rickert took a third in the 200-yard breaststroke event but set a new North Central record with a time of 2:24.8.

The victory for the national crown culminates another outstanding season for the Redbird tankmen. After finishing a losing season of 4-6 in dual competition, the tankers went to capture their 14th consecutive CCI crown; the championship of the first annual Mideast small college regionals in the NCAA and third consecutive NAIA titles on consecutive weekends. They opened the season back in December by winning first place for the third straight year at the Loyola Relays.

In dual competition, the Cards defeated Winona State, Macalester, Loyola and Bowling Green while losing to Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Southern Illinois, Western Michigan and Indianapolis Athletic Club.

- excerpt from College Chronicle (March 22,1963)
information provided by the College Archives