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Tom Grall turned West Liberty into a national swimming dynasty during a five-year run in the mid-1970s and also played a key role on back-to-back NAIA football playoff teams as a defensive coordinator. Grall's five WLSC swimming teams went 140-26 with four WVIAC championships and an NAIA national runner-up finish in 1973. He produced 11 NAIA All-Americans in 1973 alone and 42 during his five years on the hilltop. His 1973 team was so dominant, Hilltopper swimmers claimed 24 of the 26 spots on the All-WVIAC Team. Six of his swimmers went on to compete in the Olympics.
The talented coach also made his mark on the football field, serving as defensive coordinator for a pair of nationally-ranked defenses that helped West Liberty advance to the NAIA national semifinals in 1970 and 1971.
Grall served on the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee for eight years and was President of the NAIA Swimming Coaches Association. He was also on the coaching staff for the U.S. National team at the World University games in Italy and spent four years on the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Board of Directors. He is a member of the NAIA National Swimming Hall of Fame and was the recipient of a special recognition award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
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