Cornell University hosted the 36th annual NCAA swimming and diving championships at Teagle Pool from March 26-28, 1959. Michigan captured its third straight title by a decisive 137.5-44 margin over runner-up Ohio State to set NCAA records for most points and largest margin of victory. In all, six American, eight NCAA and 10 meet records were shattered over three days. Five Big Red swimmers (Robert Coifman '60, Alan Dybvig '61, Lawlor Reck '60, David Stiller '60 and Gerrit White '61) and two Big Red divers (Paul Grannis '61, Alan Snyder '61) were the team's entries at the meet. Longtime Ithaca Journal sports editor Kenny Van Sickle chronicled the meet at the conclusion - all rights belong to The Ithaca Journal

ITHACA, N.Y. -- For overall strength, balance in all the strokes, distances and diving, Michigan probably has the finest college swimming team ever assembled. Bob Kiphuth, the veteran Yale coach who has seen plenty in his more than 45 years of activity, thinks so. Gus Stager, coach of the "Champions of the West: allowed as how he would go along with that theory.

Michigan certainly showed it in the weekend National Collegiates at Teagle Hall, swimming off with a record 137 1/2 points and scoring in 15 of 16 events. Only in the 440-yard freestyle was it shut out. It missed qualifying a man in this event by 1.1 seconds.

Michigan had been tabbed as the team to beat as early as last season after winning the NCAA a second time at Ann Arbor. It didn't do anything through this season to change opinions. But nobody envisioned such a rout as the Wolverines perpetrated on their rivals from all over the nation in this big climactic event.

They began piling up points as early as the first swimming final Friday night, never letting up.

Michigan has six winners and countless other scoring placings. Dave Gillanders won both butterfly races, Frank Legacki won the 100 free and Dick Hanley won the 220 free, and both relay teams won.

Gillanders, sophomore from Royal Oak, Mich., was one of the meet surprises, twice upsetting his teammate, Tony Tashnick, who has been regarded as a prime favorite to successfully defend his crowns. Furthermore, the slender blond, in winning the 100 and 200 butterfly races, set American NCAA, meet and pool records.

Records fell repeatedly. The college book will need an almost complete revision. There were six American records broken, eight NCAA and 10 meet marks. The only pool record that survived the onslaught was the 17:44.5 in the 1,500 meters freestyle swim by George Breen of Cortland here in the Easterns in 1956.

NOTES:

• This was the biggest swimming meet ever to hit Ithaca - a statement that will probably be repeated in years to come. Teagle's 25-yard pool is an excellent one, as the records testify, but the deck space is limited. So is the space for spectators. The Big Tenners and others have been spoiled by palatial facilities and may elect to stay in such haunts. Next year's meet will be in Dallas as Southern Methodist University
• Visiting coaches and officials couldn't say enough for the Cornell hospitality
• The meet had 273 competitiors and 63 schools, but only 19 schools scored.
• The best meet effort by a Cornellian was Dave Stiller's third in his qualifying heat of the 200 breast Saturday afternoon. He swam it in 2:29.8. The last qualifying spot was gained by defending champion Modine with 2:26.4.