Spring 1997

National champion

Rose-Hulman junior Ryan Loftus became only the second Engineer athlete to win an NCAA III Championship, by clearing a school record 16-feet, 8-inches in the pole vault at the 1997 NCAA III Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Loftus’ vault was his best and the school’s best by over three inches. He walked away with the school’s first national championship since Chris Trapp won the NCAA III javelin title in 1984, `85 and `86.

Junior Nate Subbert was Rose-Hulman’s other qualifier for the NCAA III Championships, competing in the 35-lb. weight throw. Subbert finished seventh in the nation with a toss of 51’-8 1/2".