Forester Athletic Hall of Fame
Inducted 2005

Dan Tarkowski grew up in Huntsville , Alabama , and attended Grissom High School .

Tarkowski enrolled at Lake Forest College in the fall of 1991 and was one of the fastest swimmers in the nation throughout his career. He won the 50-yard freestyle at the 1992 Conference Championship Meet and placed second in both the 100- and 200-freestyle events. He would go on to win all three races each of the next three seasons and, including relays, finished his career with 21 conference championship performances. The Foresters won the team title his sophomore year and placed second each of his other three seasons. He was named MWC Swimmer of the Year in 1994 and 1995. Tarkowski qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship Meet each of his four seasons and placed among the top 16 in the country 10 times. His best performance came in 1994 when he won a national title in the 100-freestyle and placed in the top four in both the 50- and 200-freestyle competitions, leading Lake Forest to a tied-for-19th place national finish. He was named his team's Most Valuable Swimmer following each of his last three seasons and was elected team captain as a junior and senior. At the time of his induction Tarkowski held school records in the 50-, 100-, and 200-freestyle events and his 400-freestyle and 400-medley relay teams were still the fastest in the program's history.

He was also a member of the Russian Club while at Lake Forest . He graduated from the College in 1995 with a degree in politics.