Hall of Honor
The record-shattering performances of “Chet” Otis sparked Beloit swim teams to unparalleled success in the early ‘50s. Turning to swimming seriously during a year’s pre-college sting in the Marines, Otis was undefeated in the breast stroke in three years of varsity competition and established numerous pool records at home and away. Team captain as a junior and senior, he led the Buccaneers to their first unbeaten season in 1953 – when they won seven meets and the Midwest Invitation and Central Collegiate championships – and to 19 consecutive victories, many over major schools. Midwest conference champion in 1951, when as a sophomore he broke the old 200-yard standard by nearly eight seconds, and member of the victorious 200- and 400-meter teams in the East West Relays in Florida later that year, Otis also was anchorman for record-setting Beloit relay squads. He gained national ranking in 1952 with a school mark that still stands – 2:19.5 in the 200, a time which then was fourth best in the nation. Nationally ranked again in 1953, he capped his career with a third-place finish in the 200 in the NCAA meet, before competition was divided into university and college divisions.
