Swarthmore College Athletics

Rolf Valtin '48 had an unusual but unforgettable Garnet career. During his freshman year, Valtin - a German immigrant whose original surname was Wiegelmesser - was a star of the Swarthmore soccer team, earning All-America honors. Following that year, Valtin left the College to become a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the height of World War II, participating in the Normandy invasion on Omaha Beach. He returned to the College in 1946 and resumed his remarkable career, earning All-America honors and scoring a then-program-record 11 goals in 1947. Valtin's play earned him a place on the U.S. Olympic soccer team, sending him to the 1948 London Summer Olympics. Valtin also scored in a 4-1 friendly victory over Israel on Oct. 10 of that year.  A retired arbitrator, Valtin lives in Alexandria, Va., with his wife, Nancy Eberle Valtin '47.