NAME: Dinos (1980-91)
UNIVERSITY: Calgary
CATEGORY: Tam
SPORT: Men's Swimming
CW Hall of Fame Class of 2024-25
HIGHLIGHTS:
• 11 consecutive conference titles from 1980-91
• Nine National Championships (1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91)
• 1980-81: Mike Olsen – Swimmer of the Year
• 1981-82: Graham Smith – Swimmer of the Year
• 1983-84: Tom Ponting – Swimmer of the Year
• 1987-88: Gary VanderMeulen – Swimmer of the Year
• 1988-89: Tom Ponting – Swimmer of the Year
• 1990-91: Jon Cleveland – Swimmer of the Year
BIOGRAPHY:
The Dinos were the most dominant force in university swimming between 1980-91, capturing a remarkable 11 straight conference titles. The team was also a powerhouse on the national stage, capturing nine national titles over that stretch.
The team featured seven olympians, including Rob Chernoff (1984), Tom Ponting (1984, 1988, 1992), Mike Meldrum (1988), Gary Vandermeulen (1988), Steven Vandermeulen (1988), Jon Cleveland (1988, 1992), and Mark Tewksbury (1988, 1992).
Getting his start at the University of Calgary, Tewksbury would go on to become one of the most recognizable Canadian athletes in history. As a Dino, he captured 10 national gold medals and was twice named the Dinos Male Athlete of the Year (1988, 1990).He would go on to become a Canadian olympic star, capturing a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games in the 100m backstroke.
Tewksbury would also be a key part of the Canadian bronze medal winning 4x100m medley relay team at the '92 Olympics, alongside two Dinos teammates in Jon Cleveland and Tom Ponting.
Two members of the Dinos dynasty have already been enshrined in the Canada West Hall of Fame. Tewksbury was inducted in 2019, and would later be joined by the team's head coach Derek Snelling, inducted into 2022.