Trads National Champs Html

CINCINNATI NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1946 200-Meter Butterfly
Charles Keating

During his second stint at the University of Cincinnati following involvement in World War II, Charles Keating's swimming career resumed in 1945.

In 1945, Keating won the 200 yard breaststroke at the Ohio Intercollegiate Conference championship, but his biggest feat was yet to come. On March 30, 1946, Keating competed in the 200 yard breakstroke at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, before a packed house of 2,500 spectators at Yale University's Payne Whitney Gymnasium.

In an exciting, back-and-forth contest with Paul Murray of Cornell University and future coaching legend James Counsilman of The Ohio State University, Keating prevailed by a foot to win the championship with a time of 2:26.2. (The event was later reclassified as the butterfly in NCAA records due to a definitional evolution involving the two strokes.)

Keating had successfully captured the first ever national championship in any sport for the University of Cincinnati and he and teammate Roy Lagaly also become the first-ever Bearcats to be named All-Americans.

1960-61 Men's Basketball

Front Row -- Jim Calhoun, Tony Yates, Carl Bouldin, Paul Hogue, Bob Wiesenhahn, Tom Thacker, Tom Sizer.
Back Row -- Head coach Ed Jucker, Larry Shingleton, Fred Dierking, Ron Ries, Dale Heidotting, Mark Altenau, assistant coach Tay Baker.

Cincinnati, the club that first-year head coach Ed Jucker called "the All-American team with no All-Americans", overcame back-to-back third place finishes in both the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons to capture UC's first team national championship in the 1960-61 campaign.

The season got off to an inauspicious start as the Bearcats boasted a 5-3 record through eight games. From that point, Cincinnati embarked on a lengthy winning streak that was highlighted by one of the top defense's in the country.

UC ranked among the nation's leaders in scoring defense, giving up just 60.8 points per game, and in rebounding by snatching 51.8 rebounds per game.

On the other end of the floor, the Bearcats had four men average double-figures in scoring, led by Bob Wiesenhahn and Paul Hogue, who poured in 17.1 and 16.8 points per game, respectively.

Cincinnati reached the NCAA Tournament courtesy of an 18-game winning streak that saw UC snatch its fourth straight Missouri Valley Conference championship, becoming the first league member to corral four consecutive undisputed MVC crowns in 34 years.

On the heels of its fourth MVC Conference Championship, the Bearcats dispatched Texas Tech and Kansas State to advance to their third consecutive Final Four. After third-place finishes the previous two seasons, UC met Utah in Kansas City, Mo., with a goal of reaching its first title game in school history. Led by Carl Bouldin's 21 points, Cincinnati advanced to the national championship game on the hands of an 82-67 victory over the Utes, setting up a meeting with undefeated Ohio State squad in the championship.

Cincinnati led by as many as four points in the first half against the favored Buckeyes, but 18 first-half points by All-American Jerry Lucas sent Ohio State into the locker room with a 39-38 lead. Trailing by four points late in the second half, 59-55, a six-point surge by the Bearcats catapulted UC in front, 61-59. A Bob Knight lay-up tied the game at 61 and both teams missed opportunities to win the game in regulation, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Bearcats took the lead on a pair of Paul Hogue free throws and never looked back as UC raised its first NCAA men's basketball national championship with a 70-65 win over Ohio State.

In an interview following the game, head coach Ed Jucker said, "We've got no all-Americans on this ball club. It would be hard to single out any individual, but this Tony Yates did a tremendous defensive job. And Carl Bouldin did a great job, especially with those five straight from outside early in the second half. They were magnificent together."

Bouldin and Wiesenhahn were second and third in the all-tournament team balloting behind tournament MVP, Jerry Lucas. UC finished the season with a 27-3 record, and won a school-record 22 games, which still stands to this day.

1961-62 Men's Basketball

Front Row -- Larry Shingleton, Tony Yates, Larry Elsasser, Tom Thacker, Tom Sizer, Jim Calhoun.
Back Row -- Assistant coach Tay Baker, Bill Abernathy, Fred Dierking, George Wilson, Ron Reis, Paul Hogue, Dale Heidotting, Ron Bonham, Head coach Ed Jucker.

After an improbable run to a national championship in 1960-61, Cincinnati was the target in the 1961-62 season with 10 lettermen returning for a chance for back-to-back national titles.

Heading into the season, major concerns for second-year head coach Ed Jucker were positioning his talent and developing outside shooting. Those concerns were eliminated as the season progressed considering Cincinnati captured a share of the Missouri Valley Conference championship, marking the fifth straight season that the Bearcats captured at least a share of the league crown.

Despite a 25-2 record, another league title to its credit, and owning the label as defending national champion, Cincinnati held the No. 2 ranking throughout most of the season.

With a goal of reaching its fourth consecutive Final Four and claiming its second national title, the Bearcats kicked off the 1962 NCAA Tournament in strong fashion claiming triumphs over Creighton (66-46) and Colorado (73-46), declaring its fourth straight Midwest Regional crown.

UC's opponent in the national semifinal in nearby Louisville, Ky., was UCLA and Cincinnati quickly jumped on top of the Bruins capturing a 16-2 lead in the opening five minutes. However, UCLA regained its composure and eventually tied the game at 37 entering halftime.

The second half was a see-saw battle that featured eight lead changes and 10 ties. Tied at 70, with 2:27 remaining, both teams went scoreless for the next 2:24, until Tom Thacker buried a 25-foot jump shot from the right wing, placing UC in front, 72-70, with three seconds remaining. Following a timeout called by legendary coach John Wooden, UCLA attempted a full court desperation shot that was deflected out of bounds and UC had won a nail-biter to advance back to the national title game. All-American Paul Hogue paced Cincinnati against the Bruins with a career-high 36 points and 19 rebounds.

Standing in the way of UC was Ohio State, who had earned its second crack at UC with an 84-68 win over Wake Forest in the other national semifinal. Hogue and Thacker were determined to put the Bearcats on their backs as the duo combined to score 12 of UC's 13 field goals in the first half and combined to score 29 points, which matched the output for the entire Buckeyes squad as UC entered the half with a 37-29 lead.

In the second half, a free throw by Jerry Lucas with 18:39 to play in the second half cut the Ohio State deficit to seven points, 37-30, but that was as close as Ohio State got in the second half as the Bearcats outscored the Buckeyes 34-30 in the second half to win its second national championship, 71-59. Hogue led all scorers with 22 points, while Thacker added 21 points in the triumph.

"The key again was our ability to get the ball into Hogue (Paul) and our control of the boards," Jucker said. "Tom Thacker was like five men out there. He was all over the place; feeding, jumping, rebounding. He played a very powerful game and can't say enough for him."

"This was a real satisfying win. We have a dedicated ball club. They proved to the world they are the greatest." Hogue garnered 75 of 78 votes cast to earn tournament MVP honors and was the only unanimous choice on the all-tournament team selected by the newsmen covering the tournament. Thacker joined Hogue as a first-team all-tournament selection, while Tony Yates and was a second-team selection.

1989 3-Meter Dive
Pat Evans

After taking a year off to concentrate on the Olympic Trials, Pat Evens became the second University of Cincinnati Individual National Champion with his outstanding performance on the 3-meter board at the NCAA National Meet. Setting a new NCAA, record of 649.55, Evens was named National Diver of the Year, as well as Metro Diver of the Year. He also took home All-American honors with second place finishes in the 1-meter and platform events. UC placed 18th overall as a team.

1996 10-Meter Dive
Becky Ruehl

Becky Ruehl became the first-ever female National Champion in any sport at UC when she won the Platform Diving event at the NCAA National Meet. She also placed second on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards, earning herself All-American Honors, and the prestigious NCAA Diver of the Year Award. Ruehl also made the 1996 Olympic team, placing fourth for the United States in Atlanta.

2003-04 Dance Team
Hip-Hop Division

Front Row (L-R): Margot Inzetta, Erin Moneypenny, Melissa Bodner, Stephanie Hautman, Kristen Collins, Trisha McCarthy & Kelly O'Dell.
Middle Row (L-R): Marybeth Keating, Katie Dooley, Laura Deller, Allison Reed, Whitney Creasman, Julie Wiesman, Lindsay Greene, Korin Smith & Elise Allen.
Back Row (L-R): Amanda Hennel, Nicole Patton, Julie Lamey, Jennifer Endres, Cynthia L. Schenk, Ashlie Wilkson, Brandy King, Holly Harvey, Cari Oldendick.
Not Pictured: Lauren Alto, Shannon Brodie, Emily Kinker, Jacquelyn Krogman, Rebecca Sprague & Ashley Sheakoski.

2004-05 Dance Team
Hip-Hop Division

Front Row (L-R): Julie Wiesman, Cari Oldendick, Jennifer Endres, Ashlie Wilkson, Emily Kinker & Kristen Collins.
Middle Row (L-R): Yoko Kowaas, Marybeth Keating, Emily Greenstone, Cindy Schenk, Elise Allen, Katie Volz & Danielle Deyo.
Back Row (L-R): Tanisha Shelmon, Jennifer Bernier, Rachel Cassano, Julie Lamey, Julie Dota, Holly Harvey, Megan Weisel & Ashley Kahles.

2005-06 Dance Team
Hip-Hop Division

Front Row (L-R): Marybeth Keating, Julie Dota, Kristen Collins, Julie Wiesman, Ashlie Wilkson, Cari Oldendick, Emily Kinker, Jennifer Bernier.
Middle Row (L-R): Sarah Miyagawa, Jamie Cobb, Emily Greenstone, Danielle Deyo, Julie Lamey, Holly Harrey, Tiffany Cochrane, Ashley Kahles.
Back Row (L-R): Lauren Mitchell, Alison Atsalis, Kristin Drew, Hanah Patterson, Lauren Weller, Sabrina Salter, Melanie Trader, Jessice Roper. Not Pictured: Cindy Schenk, Kristen Olsen, Holly Dignan.

2008-09 Dance Team
Hip-Hop Division

Front Row (L-R): Angela Sims, Morgan Deitsch, Laura Herchline, Amanda Kelley, Kelsey Hamada, Alicia Neal, Chandra Miller, Kelli Barton.
Middle Row (L-R): Emily Greenstone, Kayle Greenstone, Stephanie Coy, Jamie Cobb, Suzanne Junker, Julie Dota, Jennifer Bernier, Hannah Patterson, Christina Mendieta, Paula Barclay.
Back Row (L-R): Brittany Jones, Carrie Wiesman, Candace Roth, Anna Merrifield, Anya Spinnazola, Molly Schellenberg, Megan Zugelder, Samantha Cobb, Emily Riesenberg, Michelle Love, Katie Ziegler. Not Pictured: Michelle Ciccarello.

2010 50-Meter Freestyle
Josh Schnieder

University of Cincinnati swimmer Josh Schneider won the 2010 NCAA Championship in the 50-yard freestyle on March 26, the first day of the NCAA meet at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the campus of The Ohio State University.

Schneider became UC's fourth individual national champion and the first in an individual swimming event since 1946. The three previous UC individual champions were Charles Keating (swimming) in 1946, diver Pat Evans in 1989, and diver Becky Ruehl in 1996. Keating was the 200 breaststroke champion, Evans was a 3-meter diving champion, and Ruehl took the 10-meter diving crown.

The senior, top-seeded entering the event, swam a school- and pool-record time of 18.93. It was better then his seed time of 19.07 from the morning, and his first time swimming under 19 seconds in competition.

He trailed Cal's Nathan Adrian at the turn and was neck and neck with Texas' Jimmy Feigen swimming identical 9.27 opening 25s, compared to Adrian's 9.20. Schneider chased him down in the last 25 yards, swimming 9.66 to Feigen's 9.81 and Adrian's 9.82 to earn the win.