The North Central swimming team proved they were the No. 1 small college team in the country by winning the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Swimming Championship. The meet was held in the Ball StateTeachers College pool in Muncie, Ind. North Central earned the victory with 88 points. Central Michigan had 54 ½ points; Detroit Institute of Technology, 34 ½ points.

The North Central team came close to completely rewriting the record books. The 400-yard medley relay team set a new NAIA record and a new pool record with a winning time of 4:12.2.

Ernie Alix set a new NAIA record and a new pool record in the 200-yard butterfly event with a winning time of 2:25.6. Jim Rank’s qualifying time in the 100-yard freestyle set a new NAIA record and a new pool record. Rank’s qualifying time was 53.7; his final winning time was 53.5. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Jim Rank, Dan Stump, John Molitor, and Harry Morris set a new NAIA and pool record. Their time for the 400 yards was 3:41.5.

John Molitor took first in the 220-yard freestyle with a time of 2:17.9. This time set a new NAIA record and ties the pool record. John Molitor also set a new NAIA record in the 440-yard freestyle event with a time of 5:06.2. Jim Rank tied the pool record with a time of :23.7 in the 50 yard freestyle.

Final team scores
1) North Central - 88
2) Central Michigan - 54 ½
3) Detroit Inst. of Tech - 34 ½
4) East Carolina - 29
5) Ball State - 25
6) Tennessee A & I - 10
7) Adelphi - 9
8) Kansas - 8
9) Beloit - 5
10) Indiana State - 2
11) Central State Ohio - 1

- excerpt from North Central NOW (Spring, 1958)
information provided by the College Archives