WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2017

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John Havlik, who swam at WVU from 1977-80, became WVU’s first United States Olympic Swimming Trials qualifier in 1980 and three-time NCAA swimming qualifier from 1978-80.

A native of Glen Burnie, Maryland, Havlik helped the Mountaineers to a 31-6 record during his career. In 1980, Havlik was tri-captain and led the Mountaineers to a 9-0 mark, the school’s first-ever undefeated, untied season.

A four-year letterwinner and three-time team MVP, Havlik was an eight-time school record holder during his four years (200-, 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events, 400-yard individual medley, 100- and 200-yard butterfly events and member of the 400-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay).

He left school as the WVU Natatorium record holder in three events: 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley. Havlik still holds the WVU Natatorium record in the 500-yard freestyle set in 1980.

Havlik was selected as the Most Outstanding Swimmer for the 1979 and 1980 Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Championships – the first swimmer in WVU history, male or female, ever selected for that award. He was a six-time Eastern Intercollegiate swimming champion.

Havlik earned a spot on the 1979 All-East swimming team in the 200-yard butterfly and was named to the All-ECAC All-Star Team in the 200-yard butterfly (1977, 1978 and 1979) and 500-yard freestyle (1979).

Havlik was chosen to attend the 1979 Olympic Development Swimming Camp, and was a four-time qualifier to the AAU Indoor and Outdoor National Swimming Championships.

Havlik won the 1979-80 WVU Athletic Council award, honoring the senior WVU athlete for athletic performance, sportsmanship, dedication and academic achievement.

Havlik finished his degree at West Virginia while helping WVU Hall of Fame coach Kevin Gilson as his assistant coach in 1980-81. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982 and was assigned as an assistant swimming coach and physical education instructor at the United States Naval Academy from 1982-84.

In 2014, Havlik retired from the Navy with a rank of Captain after 31 years of distinguished service. For 29 of those years, he was an officer in the SEALs – the Navy’s elite special operations forces. He served on various SEAL teams throughout his career, including the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, considered the SEAL's most elite unit.

Havlik has continued to garner many swimming accomplishments at the United States Master’s Swimming level, including national championships, All-America honors and numerous U.S./World Top 10 rankings.