Tony Tashnick

A native of Detroit, Michigan, versatile swimmer Tony Tashnick (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.[1]

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[2][3]

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.[4] 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.[5] Finishing in third place, Tony Tashnick had narrowly missed a trip to the Summer Games of Rome, Italy.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.goggleawards.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/1196d3cb-681c-4190-80fb-d5170d94bcc3/1956.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863266,00.html
  3. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/champs_records_book/1999-00/m_swimming.pdf
  4. ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=knQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5376,701941&dq=tony+tashnick+1959+pan+american&hl=en
  5. ↑ http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/olymp2/ol1960.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/57990b2c-e139-4432-bfeb-32601094e415/scy_men_event_history.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/e0484f53-a11a-4056-aefd-7cef300751d3/1960.pdf
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