CMC75 Moments: Jones, Tempkin Win Combined 14 National Titles in 1969, 1970

As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1969-70 Men's Swimming: Jones, Tempkin Win Seven National Titles Two Straight Years

Claremont-Mudd men's swimming nad diving won the 1967 NAIA National Championship without having a dominant swimmer, winning only the 800 free relay out of the 18 events competed. In 1969 and 1970, the program had two, Eric Jones (sprint freestyle) and David Tempkin (butterfly), who combined for 14 national championships (seven apiece) over those two seasons.

In 1969, Jones took first place in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.89, actually edging out teammate Robin Durnin as the Stags finished 1-2. He also anchored the 400 free relay to another title, his second of four straight titles in the 400 free relay over his four-year career. In 1970, he took both the 50 and the 100 free titles, and was a part of two relay wins in the 400 medley and 400 free for a four national championship season. Individually, he added a fourth individual title in the 100 free in 1971, giving him two individual championships in the 50 and two in the 100 in his career. 

During the 1969 nationals, Tempkin won his first individual championship in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:58.35, setting a new NAIA record, and capped off the meet with a butterfly sweep, winning the 100 in 52.86 for another new NAIA record. He would break both of his butterfly records the following year, when he swept the two events again (with teammate Joe Busch second in the 200 in another 1-2 Claremont-Mudd finish), going 4-for-4 in his two years competing for the Stags, and added two relay wins in the 400 medley and the 800 free. 

Jones and Tempkin would finish with a combined 17 national championships between them, with Jones earning 10 (four individual, six relay) in four years, and Tempkin earning seven first-place medals (four individual, three relay) in two years of competition. Only one of those 17 titles was a shared one, when they combined to win the 400 medley relay in 1970 (with Carl Falco and Bruce Black) in NAIA record time.

The Stags rolled to the SCIAC Championship in 1969 as well. Joining Jones and Tempkin in winning individual SCIAC titles were Robin Durnin (50 free), Rick James (200 free), Jim Lambert (500 free), Joe Busch (200 IM) and Hugh Felt (1-meter, 3-meter dive), while Peter Cowden, Karl Graeber, Bob Leach and Mason Lee contributed to SCIAC relay titles. 
 
Jones was a part of the first CMS Hall of Fame induction class in 1991, along with football player Steve Endemano, men's track and field athletes Bill La Rock and Pete Welsh, and founding athletic director Bill Arce. Tempkin would also join the CMS Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007. 

Eric Jones:

Those are great memories. Dave was a terrific swimmer.  I remember Coach Dez throwing him into the 500 free at nationals (not what he usually races) and he toughed out a good time for fourth place. Of course, he dominated in the butterfly events. Thank you for the job you've done to keep the history of swimming and diving at Claremont-Mudd alive.

"Go out fast and bring it back hard!" - Coach Dez.

1969 Men's Swimming Roster
Head Coach: Dez Farnady
Peter Andrews (CMC)
Brock Bernstein (CMC)
Randy Boelsems (CMC)
Joe Busch (CMC)
John Colgren (HMC)
Al Cornwell (CMC)
Peter Cowden (CMC)
Robin Durnin (CMC)
Hugh Felt (CMC)
Jon Geibel (HMC)
Brian Gill (CMC)
Peter Good (CMC)
Karl Graeber (CMC)
Will Hitchcock (CMC)
Greg Hubbard (CMC)
Rick James (CMC)
Jon Johnson (HMC)
Eric Jones (CMC)
Howard Krausz (HMC)
Jim Lambert (CMC)
Bob Leach (CMC)
Mason Lee (CMC)
Cliff Rediger (CMC)
Steve Senecal (CMC)
Bill Smith (CMC)
David Tempkin (CMC)
David Watumull (CMC)

1970 Men's Swimming Roster
Head Coach: Dez Farnady
Bruce Black (CMC)
Steve Browne (CMC)
Joe Busch (CMC)
Al Cornwell (CMC)
Peter Cowden (CMC)
Bob Cox (CMC)
Richard Esterkin (CMC)
Carl Falco (CMC)
Jon Geibel (HMC)
Brian Gill (CMC)
Peter Good (CMC)
John Halas (HMC)
Will Hitchcock (CMC)
Greg Hubbard (CMC)
Rick James (CMC)
Jon Johnson (HMC)
Larry Johnson (CMC)
Eric Jones (CMC)
Jim Lambert (CMC)
John Lambert (CMC)
Mark Rosenthal (CMC)
Bob Seaman (CMC)
Steve Senecal (CMC)
Bill Smith (CMC)
David Tempkin (CMC)
Ed Thomas (CMC)
David Watumull (CMC)