University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics

Tom Rath dominated the three track & field jumping events in the then-called Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) from 1966 to 1968 and 1970.
 
During his tenure, Rath achieved remarkable success, winning a total of 10 conference titles and contributing to the Titans’ triumph in three league championships. In 1966, UW-Oshkosh shared the conference title, the Titans’ first title since 1927. Rath’s first-year contributions were followed by outright team championships in 1967 and 1968.
 
Rath’s impressive performances extended beyond the conference level. He claimed NAIA District 14 Athlete of the Year honors in 1968 while participating in seven national meets, securing six top-ten finishes and earning NAIA All-America honors in 1970.
 
Rath’s freshman season was marked by significant achievements. He set a new conference record for the outdoor triple jump and later placed fourth in the NAIA Outdoor Championship held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
 
As a sophomore, Rath’s dominance continued. He emerged as the team’s leading scorer and was unanimously voted most valuable player by his teammates. He achieved the distinction of being the only double winner in the WSUC outdoor meet, claiming the triple jump and high jump crowns. Additionally, he secured a sixth-place finish in the high jump at the NAIA Outdoor Championship meet held again in Sioux Falls.
 
In 1968, Rath made history by becoming the first athlete to win three events simultaneously at the outdoor conference championship. He won the triple jump and high jump, and he also set a conference record in the long jump with a 7.20-meter mark, which stood as an unbroken record until 1983. Furthermore, he made history by becoming the first athlete to be selected to the NAIA All-District track team in three separate events. He was named the NAIA District 14 Athlete of the Year and placed third in the high jump at the NAIA Indoor Championship, leaping to his first All-America laurel.
 
Rath’s remarkable achievements continued in 1970 when he won his indoor conference title in the triple jump and finished second in the high jump at the NAIA Indoor Championship before repeating as the WSUC champion in all three events at the outdoor meet. Rath became the first athlete in District 14 to be selected to the NAIA All-District track team in three separate events.
 
Throughout his career, Rath’s accomplishments were further solidified by setting school records in the three jumping events. His best effort in the high jump stood at 2.03 meters, while his best effort in the triple jump was 14.21 meters. Additionally, he set the program record for the most points scored in track over four years, established conference records in the long jump and triple jump, and was voted most valuable by his teammates twice and co-captain once.
 
Rath attributes part of his success with track & field to a very supportive athletics department along with his teammates and his close relationship with head coach and 1999 UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Jim Flood for each of the years he competed.
 
In 2012, Rath was honored by being named to the WIAC All-Centennial Men’s Track & Field Team.
 
Rath attended Washington High School in Two Rivers and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1970.