Knox College Athletics

Steve Varick graduated from Knox College in 1976, having lettered three years in swimming. He still holds the Knox record in 500 yard freestyle (4:55.8) that he set in 1976. Steve was part of a record-setting 800 yard freestyle relay team and was voted Knox College Most Valuable Swimmer in 1974, 1975, and 1976.

Van Steckelberg coached Steve during his sophomore through senior years at Knox. “Not only was Steve an accomplished swimmer, but his leadership qualities continually set an example for hard work and dedication to his sport. I cannot speak to his freshman year, but he led his team to a second place finish in the Midwest Conference as a sophomore, and as a junior and senior distinguished himself in leading Knox to back-to-back conference championships in 1975 and 1976,” said Steckelberg, who was the Knox swim coach from 1973 to 1977.

Steve finished first in the conference in the 100 yard freestyle and the 200 yard freestyle in 1972-73, breaking the Knox records in both events.  He was part of the Midwest Conference Champion men’s swim team in 1974-75 and finished first in the conference in the 200, 500, and 1650 yard freestyle. Steve qualified for the Division III national finals that season. He was part of the Midwest Conference Champion men’s swim team again during the 1975-76 season.

“He never qualified for the NCAA meet, but far more important to me as his coach, he accomplished a feat that I cannot even to this day comprehend. Steve never lost a swimming event in the Midwest Conference Championships. To say that is an incredible accomplishment is an understatement. As part of the 1975-76 team, they captured the Dilly the Duck for the best dual meet record of all of the schools they swam in the Midwest Conference,” said Steckelberg.

Steve served as captain of both the 1975 and 1976 teams. He went on after Knox to become a successful lawyer.

I am honored to welcome Steve Varick as a 2010 inductee into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame.