A native of Detroit, Michigan, versatile swimmer Tony Tashnick[1] (born 1938) led his Mackenzie Stags to a first-place trophy at the 1956 city league (DPSSAL) championships. Teaming with Howard Scarborough, JC Smith and Richard Boka; Tashnick and company sealed victory for Mackenzie by defeating Denby High in the final event. During the summer of 1956, high school All-Americans Tashnick, Scarborough and Smith competed at the United States Olympic Trials.[2]

Two years later, Tony was US collegiate champion in the 100 & 200 yard butterfly; his double-victory led the University of Michigan to the 1958 National Collegiate Athletic Association swimming title[3][4][5]

By the late 1950s, Tashnick had firmly established himself as one of the best all-around swimmers in the United States; setting US Open records in the 100-yard butterfly, the 200-yard butterfly, and 200-yard individual medley. In 1959, Tony competed at the Pan American Games in Chicago; finishing fourth in the 200-meter butterfly.[6] During his senior year at the University of Michigan, team captain Tashnick swam the 200-meter butterfly at the 1960 United States Olympic Trials. In the final 20-meters of a fiercely contested race, Wolverine teammate Dave Gillanders moved ahead of Tony for the final Olympic berth.[7] Finishing in third place, Tony Tashnick had narrowly missed a trip to the Summer Games of Rome, Italy.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Tony Tashnick, UM Men's Swimming, 1957/1959; BL010523". University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.
  2. ↑ http://www.goggleawards.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/1196d3cb-681c-4190-80fb-d5170d94bcc3/1956.pdf%5B%5D
  3. ↑ Time (magazine)
  4. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/champs_records_book/1999-00/m_swimming.pdf
  5. ↑ "Coach Gus Stager, John Smith, Cy Hopkins, Tony Tashnick, Frank Legacki, UM Men's Swimming, 1959; BL010524". University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.
  6. ↑ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search".
  7. ↑ "Michigan in the Olympics - 1960 University of Michigan Athletics".
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2009-12-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-10-30. Retrieved 2009-12-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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