Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hall of Fame
Eakins, Ralph
Ralph Eakins
- Induction:
- 1988
- Class:
- 1958
Ralph Eakins lettered three years as a backstroker under Coach Sam Cooper in 1956-57-58. The Detroit MacKenzie High School product was a five-time Mid-American Conference individual champion, winning three MAC 200 backstroke titles. He was also MAC champion in the 100 backstroke and 1,500 freestyle (swimming backstroke instead of freestyle). He began his varsity participation as a sophomore by breaking the school record in the 200 back in an intra-squad meet.
Eakins swam three times at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors in the backstroke as a junior and senior. He was BG's first All-American swimmer and the first Falcon to score at the NCAA meet, taking sixth in the 100 back in 1:00.4 in 1958. His time of 2:12.7 in the 200 back as a junior was fifth-best time in the country that year. He then topped that by swimming a 2:11.5 as a senior.
Ralph Eakins was inducted to the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.
Eakins swam three times at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors in the backstroke as a junior and senior. He was BG's first All-American swimmer and the first Falcon to score at the NCAA meet, taking sixth in the 100 back in 1:00.4 in 1958. His time of 2:12.7 in the 200 back as a junior was fifth-best time in the country that year. He then topped that by swimming a 2:11.5 as a senior.
Ralph Eakins was inducted to the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.
BG Football Postgame 9.20
Saturday, September 20
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Off The Pitch: Trace Terry (Sept. 18, 2025)
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