1937-1938 Dickinson College Men's Swim Team

The 1937-38 Dickinson College Men's swimming team finished the season 2-6, yet, according to the yearbook, none of the swimmers would be lost to graduation, thus showing great promise for the following season. Coach Rice, who was elected from the senior class by the College to coach the team, was also the current record holder for the 100 yard freestyle here at Dickinson. Going into the season, he was optimistic, yet realistic. In the December 12, 1937 issue of The Dickinsonian, Coach Rice commented, "Judging from the present appearance of the team, no meet will be a push-over. . .but I know they will all do their best for themselves and for the College."

The team opened up the season strongly with a victory over the Carlisle Green Y.M.C.A. team 52-5. Despite the convincing victory, the team was brought to earth the next week when it suffered a 46-23 loss against the nationally touted squad from Johns Hopkins. Things did not get any easier from there, when they next traveled to Easton, Pennsylvania to face Lafayette College. This meet proved to be even tougher than the last, as Dickinson lost 63-12, failing to win a single race throughout the meet. The next week, Dickinson returned to the comfort of their home pool at the Alumni Gym, only to be beaten by Rider College from Trenton, New Jersey. The next meet for the Red Devils was on the road against rival Gettysburg College, and it proved to be a memorable one. Gettysburg emerged from the match victorious with a score of 36-30 by winning each of the last two races by less than one second. In a rematch the next week that proved to be just as good as the first, Dickinson beat Gettysburg at home by a score of 34-31. Dickinson managed to win the meet in the last race, the team medley, in which Guiles Flower, Judson Smith, and Sam Nelson combined to set a pool record of 1.39.9 seconds. Dickinson concluded its season with two losses against the squad from Harrisburg Y.M.C.A. the reigning Pennsylvania State Champions. In these last two meets, both teams set a number of pool records.

At the end of the season Skip Smith, the high scorer for the 1937-38 team, was elected captain for the following year. There was promise for the team as no seniors were to be lost to graduation. Dickinson were also encouraged by the large crowd support they drew at the year's home matches.

Seth Jacobsen