Wabash College Athletics

Stephen P. Turk, native of Carmel, you gave Swimming Coach Gail Pebworth a thrill when you committed to Wabash after twice earning Most Valuable Swimmer honors at Brebeuf Prep and winning a National Merit Scholarship.

Once you matriculated to the College in the fall of 1988, you gave all of Wabash a thrill as the best sprint butterfly swimmer in school history. By the time you graduated, you had become a four-time All-American and eight-time Honorable Mention All-American in the butterfly and as a key member of record-setting relays. After finishing sixth in the 100 butterfly at the national championships in your junior year en route to team MVP honors, you got even faster as a senior. In your final season (and second year as team captain), you finished fifth in the 100 butterfly at nationals in a school record time of 50.67 seconds.

You were also a member of four superb relay teams, including the 800-yard freestyle relay team that set a school record time of 6:56.39 — a mark that still stands 20 years later — and the fifth place 200 medley relay team. In addition to the fast times and school records, you led your teammates to an eighth place finish at the national championships in your senior year and shared the stage with your brother, John, whom you join — with brother Joe — in this Hall of Fame.

An economics major and Dean’s List student, you earned a minor in music and won the Louis Catuogno Prize in the Piano — in addition to claiming the Pete Vaughan Award and the Indianapolis Alumni Scholar-Athlete Award. You served Beta Theta Pi as its rush chairman, social chairman, and president. You were Features Editor for The Bachelor, a member of the Chamber Orchestra, and had your own show on WNDY radio. Stephen P. Turk, for so effectively leading your teammates and adding to Wabash’s illustrious tradition of excellence in and out of the pool, the National Association of Wabash Men is proud to induct you into the Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame. Some Little Giant!