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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, February 12, 1968
Coach had faith in star
By Bob Butler Kansan Staff Reporter
An hour before the scheduled start of Saturday's Iowa State-KU swimming meet, Don Pennington sat alone in the bleachers above the pool area, watching his old teammates warm up. Occasionally one of them would call out a greeting, which Pennington acknowledged with a grin and a wave of his hand.
"Damn," he said, "I wish I was swimming tonight."
For Pennington, Saturday's meet came in the aftermath of a record-setting career with the KU swim team—a career which ended with his being named this month as the Big Eight's "most outstanding swimmer" of 1967 by the league's swimming coaches. A fifth-year senior, Pennington was ineligible to swim this season. He won the award last year, as well.
The most productive Jayhawk swimmer ever—in his three seasons Pennington accounted for 69 individual points in the Big Eight meet—he won and set records in the 500 freestyle (4:53.4), 400 individual medley (4:25.8) and the 1,650 freestyle (17:21.0), an event he won all three years.
His last two seasons he was ranked high nationally in the 1,650 and 500 freestyles and was the first man in conference history to slip under five minutes in the 500 freestyle. He also has the
Big Eight record for the 1,000 freestyle (10:21.6).
According to Pennington, the help and understanding of coach Dick Reamon was the most important factor in his rise to the top.
"Reamon was the only coach I ever had who gave me a chance," he said. "I've had five different coaches in my life and only Reamon had any faith in me. Why, I never even placed once from the time I was 8 until I was 13. But coach Reamon had faith in me, and I hated to let him down."
"It wasn't until my sophomore year I realized I could make it," Pennington continued. "It was at the Big Eight Conference meet. My dad died that year and Dick was just like a father to me." I wasn't about to let him down so I swam for all I was worth. From then on it was all uphill."
At present, Pennington, a physical education major, is student teaching at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City. After his graduation this spring he plans to go to Air Force officers' school or go into naval aviation. When his six years in the service are up he plans to become a commercial pilot.
As far as the Olympic games are concerned, he admits that they have been a "recurring thought, but for that you have to practice three to six hours a day, seven days a week. With the draft after me because I'm a fifth year senior I just don't have time for much of anything except studying."
"The Air Force has said that they'd like me on their team, but I'm afraid my swimming days are pretty well over. Those officers' courses will keep me pretty busy anyway."
White fund gifts climb toward goal
Contributions to the William Allen White centennial campaign have reached more than a third of the $125,000 goal.
Funds from the drive will be used to establish a visiting professorship at the KU School of Journalism.
Of the $44,696 donated so far, $24,216 is cash. Pledges total $11,980 and "challenge" pledges total $8,500. These "challenge" pledges will be given only if the campaign goal is met.
KU putters take 3rd,4th
Randy Matson, world champion shot putter, led a field of Olympic hopefuls, including KU's Steve Wilhelm and Karl Salb, at the Fort Worth Invitational track meet Friday night.
Matson took first place honors with a throw of 65 feet 3 inches. Wilhelm, Los Altos, Calif., freshman, and Salb, Crossett, Ark., freshman, took third and fourth place with throws of 57 feet 7 inches and 57 feet respectively.
Second, place went to Bruce Wilhelm, Steve's brother, who entered the meet unaffiliated and threw the shot 58 feet 7 inches.
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the 1000-yard freestyle and was unable to give Gotsworth the competition that had been expected in the 200-yard butterfly.
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KU swim coach Dick Reamon said that the team still has a way to come before the Big Eight meet and that the meet pointed out what they have to do.
ISU swimmers win; five pool marks set
"I know we're in shape. Some times are just like that," said Reamon, who was pleased with the capacity crowd of 700 people attending the meet.
Five pool records were broken Saturday night as Iowa State defeated KU 70-43 in a dual swimming meet.
Jim Cotsworth paced ISU, setting pool records for the 200-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle and winning all three events he entered.
813 Mass.
The Cyclones' Cotsworth said that he swam for the team and though only of winning, not of the records he was breaking.
KU travels to Manhattan for a meet with K-State Monday evening. The next home meet is with Nebraska, 4:30 Saturday afternoon.
VI 3-2091
Kent faded after his victory in
KU spinner Bob Hines bettered the existing Big Eight record for the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.4. Hines tied ISU's John Westensee in the 50-yard freestyle setting a pool record of 21.6.
Jim Askins of KU took first in both one meter and three meter diving and Jim Kent, who swam a total of 1700 yards in three events, placed first in the 1000-yard freestyle to complete KU's five first place finishes.
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