Norman Zimmerman '79
Norman Zimmerman '79 is one of eight national champions to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Zimmerman was a four-year letterman as a diver on the swim team, helping Grinnell win two Midwest Conference championships and place second twice. As a freshman Norm claimed the Iowa Small College title in both one and three-meter diving. He grabbed his first league crown by winning the one-meter optional diving event and he set a Grinnell school record at 278.35. The swimmers were very strong during Zimmerman's sophomore year as they captured the conference title and placed 17th at the NCAA Division III national championship. Norm was a winner in both one-meter required and optional diving, setting a conference record in the former with 158.25. At the national meet he earned All-America honors by placing third in the one-meter competition with a score of 423.93 and eighth in three-meter at 296.14. As a senior the diver led Grinnell to another league title and 15th place at the national meet. Captain of the squad, Zimmerman topped one-meter competition at the Rockford Invitational, Augustana Invitational, Iowa Small College Meet and Grinnell Invitational. He placed second in both one and three-meter diving at the league meet. With a score of 416.20, Norman won the national championship in the one-meter event and scored 405.70 to place fifth nationally in three-meter diving. For his efforts Zimmerman was given the Robert Ross '53 trophy as the most valuable member of the team in 1978-79. Zimmerman resides in Trinity, N.C., where he represents the Phillips 66 Corporation.
