Tony Tashnick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tony Tashnick
Personal information
National team United States
Born1938
Detroit, Michigan
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly
College teamUniversity of Michigan
Medal record
Representing Michigan
NCAA
Gold medal – first place 1958 Ann Arbor Team title
Gold medal – first place 1958 Ann Arbor 100 yard butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1958 Ann Arbor 200 yard butterfly

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[edit]

  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[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Time (magazine)
  4. ^ http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/champs_records_book/1999-00/m_swimming.pdf[bare URL 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)