38 Records Smashed in Four Years
The greatest swimmer ever to compete for Dartmouth closed out his dualmeet career last month when Captain John Glover '55 of Larchmont, N. Y., All-American freestyler, performed in his usual brilliant style against Columbia at New York. He then went on to the Eastern intercollegiates at Yale to win both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle championships, setting two consecutive meet records in the former and a new meet record in the 100. After doing 22.4 in his 50-yard qualifying heat, Glover won the final in 22.3. His record time for the 100 was 49.6, only a shade off the world record of 49-2. At this writing the NCAA championships remain on the schedule, and there Glover may add more glory to his record.
The record as it stands, however, is not likely to be touched for a long time. The husky swimmer, son of Class Treasurer W. Curtis Glover '18, has turned in a string of 38 record-smashing performances in freestyle events, including Dartmouth College records, Spaulding Pool records, and records for the pools of many Eastern colleges. Much of Dartmouth's swimming success in recent seasons can be attributed directly to his individual efforts, which accounted for 145 of Dartmouth's 521 points last year and 89 of the 378 points scored this season.
In the Dartmouth-Penn meet in Hanover, March 5, Glover turned in his best performance of all. Swimming the first leg of the 400-yard relay, he set a new College record of 49.5 seconds for the 100 - the best time in the nation this year for that distance and just three-tenths of a second off the world's record held by Dick Cleveland of Ohio State. His other College records are 0:22.3 for the 50-yard freestyle, 1:30.8 for the 150-yard individual medley and 2:09.5 for the 220-yard freestyle.
Glover held the 1954 Eastern intercollegiate title in the 220-yard freestyle and was lead-off man on the 400-yard relay team that finished first in the Eastern intercollegiate meet. In the NCAA meet he was third in the 100 and also swam on the third-place 400-yard relay team. Glover's performances in the Eastern intercollegiates this year make him an outstanding candidate for the 1956 U. S. Olympic team.
Glover was an All-American high school swimming star while at Mamaroneck (N. Y.) High School. He captained the Green freshmen and as a sophomore moved into the All-American college ranks. Last spring Glover's brilliant record with the swimming team was recognized when he became the first recipient of the Watson Trophy as "the outstanding athlete of the year at Dartmouth." In the College's athletic history he will always hold a bright spot.
Captain John Glover '55 with Coach Karl Michael '29
