Some swimmers glide through the water with long, powerful strokes. Some swimmers move through the water with quick, choppy strokes. Then there was Orrin Neff. Neff drove through the water with meticulous detail to his stroke, fine tuned during hours and hours of practice to make sure he could squeeze every last bit of speed out if it. Neff’s efforts resulted in efficiency and versatility. He could swim the free style, the backstroke, the butterfly, or the breast stroke with a fluidity second to none. As a sophomore, Neff was a major contributor to the 1940 Suburban Conference and State Championship teams in the 50 Free Style, the 75 Individual Medley, and the 100 Backstroke. During his junior year he was Suburban Conference Champion in the 50 Free Style and the 75 Individual Medley and went on to be State Champion in both events. During his senior year he repeated his Suburban Conference Championships in the 50 Free Style and the 75 Individual Medley and added the 100 Backstroke. At the 1942 state swimming meet he won individual State Championships in the 50 Free Style and the 100 Back Stroke. His quiet, hard working dedication was the motivation for many of his teammates and resulted in the 1941 and 1942 Wauwatosa High School Swim Team placing second at the state meet. Neff’s times during the 1942 State Meet gained him recognition on the high school All American team for the 50 Free Style and the 75 Individual Medley.
