University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

When Tom Loftus graduated in 1974, he held every Blugold and McPhee pool dual meet and championship meet diving record. Loftus earned All-American honors three times. He was sixth on both boards as a sophomore, sixth on 3-meter and fourth on 1-meter as a junior and a double national champion as a senior. During that same time span, he won four conference titles, had one second and one third. Loftus was the team and district MVP and team co-captain as a senior. He was also team co -MVP as a sophomore. During his career, he also received four First Team and two Second Team All-District spots.

Following graduation from UWEC, Loftus spent two years as a junior-senior high school art teacher in Frederic, Wisconsin. He returned to his hometown of Madison in 1976 and spent three years as a substitute art teacher. At the same time, he coached the Madison East girl’s diving team which qualified finalists in the WIAA state meet and then the Madison Memorial boys team which produced gold and bronze medal winners at the state meet. He also coached the University of Wisconsin age group team the Badger Dolphins, with divers ranging in age from 7 to 18, which placed first in the AAU state championships. From 1979 to 1982, he coached the Harlem North High School girls and boys diving teams in Loves Park, Illinois. Living in Pasadena, Texas, at the time of his induction, he has coached four high schools and has had both girls and boys district champions and regional and state finalists.  He is still an active Masters diver and a respected diving official.