Mike Kowalski
Mike Kowalski
Full Name:  Michael Joseph Kowalski
   School:  Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Seminole Relations:  Father of Matthew Kowalski

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   1986 Swimming & Diving AA - Loc 7
   1995 Swimming & Diving HOF - Loc 53


FSU Career
Swimming & Diving
Year  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
82-83 BK-FS   6-2  185  Fr   *   Bloomfield Hills, MI            
83-84 BK-FS   6-2  185  So   *   Bloomfield Hills, MI            
84-85 FS-BK   6-2  180  Jr   *   Bloomfield Hills, MI            
85-86 BK-FS   6-2  178  Sr   *   Bloomfield Hills, MI            


Conference Awards
Swimming & Diving
Year  Award
1985  Metro Conference - 100-Yard Backstroke - Champion


All-American Awards
Swimming & Diving
Year  Award
1985  NCAA Championships - 100-Yard Backstroke (9th) - Honorable Mention
1986  NCAA Championships - 100-Yard Backstroke (8th)


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1995
Mike Kowalski was one of the most successful swimmers in Florida State history. Kowalski was the finest Seminole two-time All-American in swimming since the early 1960s.

Kowalski was the team MVP and captain in his junior and senior year. Before his career at Florida State was over, the Michigan native had broken records in the 100 Free Style, 100 Backstroke, 400 Free Style Relay and 400 Medley. Mike combined with Dan Akre, Brian Jones and Pablo Morales to win a national championship in the 4 X 100 medley relays at the United States Swimming Long Course National Championships.

After leaving Florida State with a degree in Business Administration, Mike had one dream left to participate in the Olympics. In the summer of 1988 he qualified for the 50-meter free style and 100 meter backstroke swimming events. He finished 12th in the 100 meter backstroke, setting the world's best time at 50 meters and placing him 30th in the world's ranking.

In the business world, he is now CEO of the largest meat purveyors in Detroit, Michigan.



FSU Statistics
Swimming & Diving
   Date    Opponent/Meet                  Event                         Place  Results Points
---------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------- ----- -------- ------
            1983 Season
10/23/1982 Tampa                          50-Yard Freestyle               1      22.4    5.00
10/23/1982 Tampa                          100-Yard Freestyle              1      47.9    5.00
11/06/1982 Brevard CC                     400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:12.97   1.75
11/13/1982 Florida                        400-Meter Freestyle Relay       1    3:12.22   1.75
11/20/1982 Auburn                         400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:08.29   1.75
02/05/1983 Georgia                        50-Yard Freestyle               3      21.76   1.00
02/05/1983 Georgia                        400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:13.69   1.75
03/05/1983 Nat Independent Championship   100-Yard Backstroke            11      52.94   2.00
            1984 Season
10/28/1983 Florida                        50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.64   3.00
10/28/1983 Florida                        100-Yard Freestyle              3      47.83   1.00
10/29/1983 South Florida                  400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:40.47   1.75
10/29/1983 South Florida                  500-Yard Freestyle              3    5:04.61   1.00
11/04/1983 Clemson                        50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.70   3.00
11/04/1983 Clemson                        400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:09.94   1.75
11/18/1983 Auburn                         50-Yard Freestyle               3      21.68   1.00
11/18/1983 Auburn                         100-Yard Freestyle              3      47.62   1.00
11/18/1983 Auburn                         400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:09.66   1.75
11/19/1983 Georgia                        50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.86   3.00
12/03/1983 Southern Illinois Invitational 50-Yard Freestyle              12      21.93   1.00
12/03/1983 Southern Illinois Invitational 100-Yard Backstroke             9      54.27   4.00
01/06/1984 Arkansas                       50-Yard Freestyle               3      21.81   1.00
01/07/1984 North Carolina State           50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.47   3.00
01/07/1984 North Carolina State           100-Yard Freestyle              2      46.8    3.00
01/09/1984 Southern Illinois              50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.78   5.00
01/09/1984 Southern Illinois              100-Yard Freestyle              1      47.10   5.00
01/09/1984 Southern Illinois              400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:11.74   1.75
01/14/1984 Alabama                        400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:32.27   1.75
01/14/1984 Alabama                        50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.94   5.00
01/14/1984 Alabama                        100-Yard Freestyle              2      48.19   3.00
01/21/1984 South Carolina                 50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.56   5.00
01/21/1984 South Carolina                 100-Yard Freestyle              1      46.91   5.00
01/21/1984 South Carolina                 400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:08.41   1.75
01/28/1984 Miami                          200-Yard Backstroke             3    2:23.11   1.00
01/28/1984 Miami                          400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:21.78   1.75
02/25/1984 Metro Championship             50-Yard Freestyle               9      21.64   4.00
02/25/1984 Metro Championship             100-Yard Backstroke             2      52.47  12.00
02/25/1984 Metro Championship             400-Yard Freestyle Relay        2    3:24.71   3.00
            1985 Season
11/10/1984 Georgia                        50-Yard Freestyle               2      22.04   3.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     50-Yard Backstroke              1      26.38  20.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     50-Yard Freestyle              10      23.87   7.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     400-Yard Medley Relay           5    3:57.10   7.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     100-Yard Backstroke             2      57.5   17.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     200-Yard Freestyle Relay        4    1:36.6    7.50
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     100-Yard Freestyle             10      53.00   7.00
12/02/1984 Canada Cup                     400-Yard Freestyle Relay        3    3:31.00   8.00
12/30/1984 Virginia Tech                  400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:32.98   1.75
12/30/1984 Virginia Tech                  50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.66   5.00
12/30/1984 Virginia Tech                  100-Yard Freestyle              1      47.96   5.00
01/11/1985 East Carolina                  200-Yard Individual Medley      1    2:00.29   5.00
01/11/1985 East Carolina                  200-Yard Backstroke             1    1:59.65   5.00
01/11/1985 East Carolina                  400-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    3:13.71   1.75
01/12/1985 North Carolina State           400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:28.97   1.75
01/12/1985 North Carolina State           50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.64   3.00
01/12/1985 North Carolina State           100-Yard Freestyle              4      47.99   1.00
01/25/1985 Florida                        50-Yard Freestyle               2      21.68   3.00
01/25/1985 Florida                        100-Yard Freestyle              2      48.01   3.00
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       50-Yard Freestyle               4      21.33   5.00
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:27.69   2.50
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       100-Yard Backstroke             1      51.49  10.00
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       800-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    6:53.35   2.50
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       100-Yard Freestyle              2      46.80   8.00
02/09/1985 Southern Intercollegiate       200-Yard Backstroke             5    1:57.76   4.00
03/02/1985 Nat Independent Championship   50-Yard Freestyle               8      21.10  11.00
03/02/1985 Nat Independent Championship   100-Yard Backstroke             1      51.10  20.00
03/02/1985 Nat Independent Championship   100-Yard Freestyle              7      46.05  12.00
03/30/1985 NCAA Championship              100-Yard Backstroke             9      49.87   9.00
            1986 Season
11/08/1985 Georgia                        50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.24   5.00
11/15/1985 Florida                        100-Yard Backstroke             1      51.44   5.00
12/02/1985 Esso International Meet        100-Yard Freestyle              4      51.25   2.00
12/02/1985 Esso International Meet        50-Yard Freestyle               3      23.52   3.00
12/02/1985 Esso International Meet        100-Yard Backstroke             3      56.90   3.00
01/02/1986 UNC-Wilmington                 200-Yard Freestyle              1    1:44.96   5.00
01/03/1986 Saint Bonaventure              400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:26.35   1.75
01/03/1986 Saint Bonaventure              50-Yard Freestyle               1      21.30   5.00
01/03/1986 Saint Bonaventure              200-Yard Freestyle Relay        1    1:36.10   1.75
01/17/1986 Louisiana State                400-Yard Medley Relay           1    3:28.86   1.75
02/01/1986 Northeast Louisiana            200-Yard Freestyle              1    1:42.38   5.00
02/07/1986 South Carolina                 400-Yard Medley Relay           2    3:25.44  
02/07/1986 South Carolina                 50-Yard Freestyle               3      21.54   1.00
02/07/1986 South Carolina                 400-Yard Freestyle Relay        2    3:05.05  
03/01/1986 Metro Championship             50-Yard Freestyle               2      20:13   4.00
03/01/1986 Metro Championship             100-Yard Freestyle              3      46.15   3.00
03/01/1986 Metro Championship             100-Yard Backstroke             2      50.93   4.00
03/01/1986 Metro Championship             400-Yard Freestyle Relay        2    3:03.71   1.00
03/01/1986 Metro Championship             400-Yard Medley Relay           2    3:21.21   1.00
04/05/1986 NCAA Championship              100-Yard Backstroke             8      49.73  11.00