When Eastern Michigan University swimmer Matt Zavislak steps into the Eagle Radio studio, he prepares to put some classic rock and Detroit sports talk over the airwaves. The senior might have made his last waves in the pool of the Jones Natatorium, but he continues to enjoy the fun of being on the radio.
A native of Commerce Township, Zavislak took up swimming when he was nine years old. Other sports like golf and soccer did not stick, but swimming did.
In high school, he was an accomplished swimmer for Walled Lake Central High School. Zavislak made it to the state finals three times in his career. He also earned All-State and All-American in his senior year. He stayed in the pool to play on the water polo team and also competed on the gridiron for the Vikings football team.
Zavislak considered going to Wayne State after high school, but with the state championship meets held on the campus of Eastern Michigan, he decided to compete at the NCAA Division I level.
“It was not until my senior year when Coach Peter Linn started recruiting me to come to Eastern,” Zavislak said. “They showed a high interest in me, so that always helped my decision.”
It didn’t take long for Zavislak to settle in with the swim team at EMU. His freshman year saw Eastern win the Mid-American Conference Championship with him on the relay teams. The 200- and 400-freestyle relay teams also grabbed first place at the EMU Invitational.
Zavislak’s sophomore year saw more success. Zavislak was on the 400-freestyle relay team that won the event and broke a pool record set by EMU in 1992. He also won the 100-freestyle event over Oakland and the 200-freestyle versus Ball State.
In Zavislak’s junior season, he was named the MAC Swimmer of the Week for Feb. 2 after winning the 100- and 200-freestyle events and 200 individual medley versus Miami (OH). Zavislak tied for third in the 100-freestyle at the MAC championship.
The 2011-12 season saw Zavislak post his best personal times in the 50-freestyle (21.25), 100-freestyle (46.72) and
500-freestyle (4:37.76). At this year’s MAC championships, Zavislak finished 10th in the 100-freestyle (45.10), eighth in the 500-freestyle (4:32.35) and 11th in the 200-freestyle (1:40.14).
With so many accomplishments in his four years at Eastern Michigan, Zavislak describes his time as the best four years of his life.
“Each year was different than the previous year, but in a good way,” Zavislak said. “Not only has swimming at a college level been a great experience, but just being an EMU student, it has been the perfect college for me.”
Zavislak sees the team as a family and sees coaches and teammates respect each other.
“We all get along well with each other,” Zavislak said. “We all make each other laugh, and most importantly, we all care about this team and the program itself.”
Outside of swimming, Matt said he loves his Detroit sports, but if he had to pick one sport over another, it would be hockey and the Detroit Red Wings.
“Anyone who knows me can say that if you ever have a question about the Red Wings, or hockey in general, I’m that guy,” Zavislak said.
When not swimming or pursuing a major in electronics, media and film, Zavislak has his own radio show on the student radio station, Eagle Radio on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. When he graduates, Zavislak will look back fondly at the times of being
on the airwaves and making a splash in the pool.
