Mike Stauffer

Born on Oct. 4, 1943 in St. John, Kansas, Mike Stauffer went on to earn high school and college All- America honors as a swimmer. Stauffer not only participated in football, swimming and track & field at Tacoma’s Wilson High School, he was a standout in all three sports. He earned All-City honors as a football end and finished fifth in the pole vault as a senior at the 1961 state meet. His biggest splash came in swimming where he set state records in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Stauffer went on to swim at the University of Minnesota, where he was a three-time All-American, the first swimmer from Tacoma to earn All-America recognition. He was a member of the Golden Gophers team that broke the American record in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the Big Ten Championships, and twice placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA national meet. Now retired from teaching in the Clover Park School District, Stauffer coached swimming at Lakes High School from 1967-2003, leading the boys team to state titles in 1984 and 1985.