MSU Swimming Alumni Meet to Say Farewell to Pool on 70th Anniversary

With the impending demolition of the Michigan State University IM West building, the MSU Swimming and Diving Alumni have planned one final farewell to the program’s longtime home.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, the 70th anniversary of the MSU Swimming and Diving Alumni Meet will splash down at the Charles McCaffree Pool at IM West. More than 500 former swimmers, divers, and their families have RSVP’d to attend. The meet will run from 11 a.m. to noon. The first Alumni Meet was held in 1956, three years before McCaffree Pool opened at IM West and became the final home of the MSU Swimming and Diving program, which was eliminated following the 2020-21 season.

A number of esteemed alumni plan to attend the final Alumni Meet, including: Gary Dilley (Class of 1967) — Silver medalist at the 1964 Olympic Games (200-meter backstroke); Four-time National Champion (100 and 200 backstroke); Eight-time Big Ten Champion; 12-time All-American; inducted in MSU Hall of Fame in 1995. NOTE: Dilley’s teammates Dennis Hill (1966) and Joe Buys (1966) are also planning to attend. Jane Manchester (Class of 1976) — Three-time National Champion (1-meter and 3-meter diving, AIAW); Three-time Big Ten Champion; All-American Mary (Rozman) Mueting (Class of 1987) — Five-time Big Ten Champion (50 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 and 400 freestyle relays); All-American Richard Crittenden (Class of 1970) — Two-time Big Ten Champion (50 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay); All-American Shawn Elkins (Class of 1978) — Two-time Big Ten Champion (200 butterfly) Bob Lundquist (Class of 1982) — Big Ten Champion (200 breaststroke) Steve Leissner (Class of 1992) — Big Ten Champion (200 individual medley); All-American; George Alderton MSU Male Athlete of the Year (1991) Jami (Archambault) Anderson (Class of 1998) — Big Ten Champion (100 backstroke); All-American Carly (Weiden) Clouse (Class of 2002) — Two-time Big Ten Champion (3-meter diving); Big Ten Diver of the Year (2001, 2002),

It will be a bittersweet goodbye to the pool, named for Hall of Fame coach Charles McCaffree, or Coach Mac. MSU will be tearing down IM West in spring 2027. The final years have seen the closing of the outdoor pool in 2018, the elimination of our program in October 2020, and now the final days of our home since 1959.

MSU Swimming and Diving alumni community has remained engaged, active, and devoted to the fight to reinstate the men’s and women’s teams. The program’s legacy is unmatched, both in passion and accolades. In its 99-year history, the MSU Swimming and Diving program produced countless achievements, including:

● 8 National Champions
● 127 Big Ten Champions (47 men’s, 80 women’s)
● 474 All-Americans (405 men’s, 69 women’s)
● 20 Olympic swimmers and divers
● Top team GPA in U.S. (women’s, 3.87) and No. 6 (men’s) in 2020

We are thrilled to welcome hundreds of former swimmers and divers, and their families and friends, to celebrate this legendary program and the people who drove its success, and demonstrate to Michigan State’s new athletic department leadership that they have a foundation of support ready for a 100th season of MSU Swim and Dive. Go Green!

For more information or questions about the 70th Anniversary Alumni Meet, please reach out to Mindy Arbaugh at mindy.arbaugh@gmail.com.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the Battle for Spartan Swim and Dive group. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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