There is one man who hopes that all travel between the United States and Europe will be held up by the German ultimatum. Doc White, University of Chicago swimming coach, is wishing that passage will be impossible for Wyncoop Rubinkam and that he will return to Chicago to help the Maroons when they run up against Northwestern in the conference swimming meet.
    For several years Coach White has struggled against the lack of material for the aquatic team on the Midway and the failure of the students to take any interest in the swimming game. When things looked rosiest this year Rubinkam, star fancy diver of the conference, left for New York, where he is expected to embark for France to engage in Red Cross work in a base hospital. Rubinkam is in the medical school and will receive special credit for his experience.
    Last winter Rubinkam was second in the fancy diving event in the conference swim at Evanston, losing to Johns of Illinois by one point. The work of the men was so close that it was almost a tossup to choose the winner, and when Rubinkam was awarded second place the Maroons tied Northwestern for first place in the meet and had to split the honors. This winter Rubinkam has been practicing new stunts on the springboard and was in even better form than last year.
    In spite of heavy losses from graduation, the Maroon team is one that will give Northwestern a real battle for the conference championship. Little competition is expected from Wisconsin and Illinois. Redmon, world's champion plunger; Capt. Pavlicek, conference record holder of the back stroke; Shirley, winner of second place in the breast stroke, graduated in June. O'Connor, the fourth man on the relay team and a good man in the sprint events, did not return to school.
    In the sprints Coach White has Earle who was the sensation of the conference last year, winning the 40 and 220 and placing second in the 100 yard event in his first year of competition.
    In the breast stroke Vacin and Bowers, a pair of sophomores, are showing good time. Collins in the back stroke, Carlson in the plunge, and Crawford in the sprints are doing well. Capt. Franklin Meine is one of the most valuable men on the squad and his general ability makes it hard for Coach White to choose his events until the pace of the other men is known.

Source:

Unknown, "Sea Perils May Keep Star Swimmer in Maroon Tank," Chicago Daily Tribune, Sunday, 4 February, 1917, Page A4.