As the high school season begins to finish up, we welcome back GTAC's high school swimmers and wish those going on to Districts and States all Fast Swims!! Now is the time to sign up for the Senior Meet and our Speedo Sectional Meet in Orlando, Florida. Keep up your hard work and Go Hurricanes!

GTAC is one of only six clubs in Ohio to be honored as USA Swimming National Clubs of Excellence. Only 100 clubs (out of 2800) in the US have been designated Silver Medal clubs, and four of them are in Ohio (Cincinnati Marlins, Northern Kentucky Clippers, Dayton Raiders and GTAC). Two other clubs (Mason Manta Rays, Upper Arlington) were selected as Bronze Medal clubs. There were no Gold medal clubs in Ohio for 2012. GTAC earned this National recognition based upon swimmer performance, coaching experience, club governance and overall training excellence from minnows to senior swimmers. GTAC has been honored nine times since the Club Excellence awards were initiated in 2002.

Congratulations to GTAC swimmers, coaches and families!

Rachel Dzierzak, Zhada Fields, Matt Zimmerman, Connor Trimble, Dan DiSalle and D.J. MacDonald competed well at U.S. Junior National Championships in Austin, TX this weekend against the fastest 18 & under swimmers in the world. GTAC swimmers were not rested as they are all beginning their high school season, but swam faster than ever before for this time of the season. The 400 Free Relay of Zimmerman, MacDonald, Trimble and DiSalle came in 18th place with the fastest high school time in the state currently, and less than one second off of their State winning time last year.

"We are in an excellent place," remarked Head Coach Keith Kennedy, "and as they continue their hard work this season, I expect very fast swims when they taper in February." Dzierzak is one of the fastest breaststrokers in the state currently, and has signed to swim with Ohio State University in 2012. She is a senior swimmer at Notre Dame Academy. Fields is a freshman at St Ursula Academy, and is already posting times which bode well for district and state meets. Zimmerman, DiSalle and MacDonald are all seniors at St Francis, and join Trimble, a junior, in working to match or improve upon their 2nd place finish at states this year. These swimmers are part of GTAC's senior and national groups which include collegiate swimmers and members of several high school teams in Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan. Congratulations to our Junior National competitors!

Six of GTAC's Senior Swimmers will be competing in Austin, Texas on December 8-10 in U.S. Junior Nationals. Zhada Fields, Rachel Dzierzak, Dan DiSalle, Matt Zimmerman, Connor Trimble and Olympic Trials Qualifier D.J. MacDonald will represent GTAC is this prestigious meet. We will follow their races on this website.

The Pasta Dinner to benefit our Olympic Trials swimmers was a great success with over $1120 made for the benefit of our athletes. Huge thanks to the Barone family who operate Rosie's Restaurant for donating the delicious sauce and pasta, and Sofo's, for its donation of salad, dressing and breadsticks. Thank you also to all of our volunteers and donors who contributed funds to the cause. We are working hard toward Omaha!

The Ohio High School swim season begins on November 6 and GTAC is offering a special 3 week prep session, Monday through Friday, 8-9:30pm at St Francis High school. Any high school swimmers is welcome to participate. The cost is $45 for the three weeks plus $58 for each swimmer's USA Swimming Registration for the 2011-2012 season. E-mail cynthiamillen@gmail.com if you are interested.

GTAC will be kicking off its 40th Season with special clinics for its registered swimmers in Bronze groups and older. Swimmers ages 11 and up will meet from 10-11am; swimmers younger than 11 will meet from 11-12noon. Registration for these clinics can be done once a swimmer is fully registered for Short Course.

September 17: Starts and Turns

October 1: Underwater Taping and Analyis

October 22: Overwater Taping and Analysis

Registration will be abvailable in the lobby, beginning Wednesday September 14.

14 Members of GTAC competed for Team Ohio at the IUPUI pool in Indianapolis and Open Water nearby. Coach Chris also went as a 10 & under Coach for Team Ohio. Congratulations to Kelsi Berry, Meghan Burnard, Connor Bishop, Regan Bohm, Sam Drees, Chloe Kaminski, Matt Kaminski, Katie Kreger, Warren Lee, Kelly Metzger, Blake Noonan, Alex Richards, Jess Sucheck, Samantha Sucheck. Scoring especially well for Team Ohio were Regan Bohm (4th, 100 back), Katie Kreger (3rd, 50 Fly and 100 Fly), Kelsi Berry and Matt Kaminski. Full results for the Zone Meet can be found by clicking here.  In Open Water, several GTAC swimmers helped Team Ohio take 3rd. Full Open Water results can be found by clicking here.  Congratulations to all of our 2011 GTAC Ohio Zone Team swimmers on a job well done!

This week, head coach Keith Kennedy was at Fort Knox, KY, speaking to veterans as the swim clinician for US Paralympics Military Summit Program. Kennedy has done this for several years as a part of the US Olympic Committees programs to encourage wounded vets to become involved in athletics through Paralympic sports. Kennedy will also speak to wounded vets returning from Afghanistan and Iraq in San Diego in October, before heading off to Rio de Janeiro as the US Paralympic Coach at the Para Pan-Pacs.

We are proud of Coach Kennedy's work with our US Vets and congratulate him on his appointment as US Paralympic Coach in Rio.

GTAC ended up in 2nd place overall with Rachel Johnson as Female High Point Winner, Carly Harter as 2nd place High Point, Rowan Williams, 3rd Place High Point, and Mike DiSalle, 5th place High Point. It was an outstanding effort from top to bottom as GTAC edged out the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins to take the Runner-up prize. Going on the Senior Nationals next week are D.J. MacDonald, Rachel Johnson, Carly Harter, Claire Leichty, McKenzie Bagan and Leslee Winfield. D.J. also will be making plans for Omaha in 2012. Congratulations to the GTAC National Team for an outstanding showing at Speedo Sectionals!

Full results:  http://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=lessssc&_stabid_=45910

46 GTAC Swimmers scored 5th place overall with 1152.5 points. Here is the re-cap for each swimmer. (Z) indicates a Zone cut; (S) indicates a Sectional cut.

Kelsi Berry: 2^nd, 400 Free (Z); 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 5^th, 50 Back (Z); 2^nd, 200 Free (Z); 6^th, 400 Free Relay;  6^th, 200 Free Relay; 4^th, 100 Back (Z);  9^th, 50 Fly (Z); 4^th, 100 Free (Z); 9^th, 100 Fly (Z); Connor Bishop: 16^th, 200 Medley Relay; 9^th, 50 Back (Z); 16^th, 100 Breast; 16^th, 200 Free Relay;  14^th, 100 Free, 7th, 100 Back (Z); Regan Bohm: 1^st, 200 Free (Z); 1^st, 200 Medley Relay; 8^th, 50 Back (Z); 8^th, 200 IM; 1^st, 200 Free Relay;  11^th, 50 Free;  1^st, 100 Back (Z); 14^th, 100 Free; Abby Brodie: 19^th, 400 Free Relay;  21^st, 200 Free Relay; John Burnard: 16^th, 200 Medley Relay; 16^th, 200 Free Relay; Meghan Burnard: 14^th, 1500 Free; 14^th, 800 Free Relay;  27^th, 400 Free Relay;  24^th, 400 Medley Relay; Austin Carter: 13^th, 800 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Medley Relay; 3th, 100 Breast; 14^th, 400 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Free Relay;  12^th, 400 Medley Relay;  13^th, 200 Breast; Sam Drees: 15^th, 400 Free; 6^th, 200 Medley Relay; 12^th, 200 Free; 4^th, 400 Free Relay; 4^th, 200 Free Relay; 14^th, 50 Free;  7^th, 100 Back (Z);  5^th, 50 Fly (Z); 14^th, 200 IM;  5^th, 400 Medley Relay;  5^th, 100 Fly (Z); Summer Drees: 28^th, 400 Free Relay; Ketan Fernandes: 14^th, 200 Medley Relay; 14^th, 400 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Free Relay;  12^th, 400 Medley Relay; Brea Fields, 3^rd, 200 Free (Z); 1^st, 200 Medley Relay; 4^th, 50 Back (Z); 4^th, 100 Breast (Z); 2^nd, 200 IM (Z); 1^st, 200 Free Relay; 2^nd, 50 Free;  6^th, 50 Breast (Z); 9^th, 100 Free (Z); Zhada Fields: 9^th, 400 Free Relay; 10^th, 200 Free Relay; 4^th, 50 Free (S); 15^th, 400 Medley Relay; Alexa Francis: 20^th, 200 Free Relay; Alex Grzeszczak: 15^th, 400 Medley Relay; 17^th, 200 Medley Relay;  27^th, 400 Free Relay Sarah Hack: 28^th, 400 Free Relay; Jacob Harris: 16^th, 200 Medley Relay; 16^th, 200 Free Relay; Katie Hsieh: 27^th, 400 Free Relay;  24^th, 400 Medley Relay; Maggie Hsieh: 21^st, 200 Medley Relay;  19^th, 400 Free Relay;  21^st, 200 Free Relay; Cidgem Kahyaoglu: 14^th, 800 Free Relay; 9^th, 400 Free Relay; 10^th, 200 Free Relay;  15^th, 400 Medley Relay; 17^th, 200 Medley Relay; Spenser Kale: 13^th, 400 Free (Z); 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 16^th, 200 Free; 6^th, 400 Free Relay;  6^th, 100 Back (Z);  21^st, 200 Free Relay; Cameron Kaminski: 16^th, 200 Medley Relay; 16^th, 200 Free Relay; Chloe Kaminski: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 5^th, 200 Free Relay; Matt Kaminski: 6^th, 200 Medley Relay; 14^th, 50 Back; 16^th, 200 Free; 4^th, 400 Free Relay; 4^th, 200 Free Relay; 3^rd, 50 Free (Z); 5^th, 400 Medley Relay; 7^th, 100 Free; Allie Kemp: 6^th, 200 Free Relay; 21^st, 200 Medley Relay;  19^th, 400 Free Relay;  20^th, 400 Medley Relay; Lizzie Kemp: 20^th, 200 Free Relay; Catherine Kight: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 6^th, 400 Free Relay; 6^th, 200 Free Relay; 15^th, 50 Free (Z); 20^th, 400 Medley Relay;Adrienne Kinor: 15^th, 1500 Free; 14^th, 800 Free Relay; 9^th, 400 Free Relay; 10^th, 200 Free Relay; 17^th, 200 Medley Relay;  24^th, 400 Medley Relay; Jacob Kreger: 6^th, 200 Medley Relay;  5^th, 400 Medley Relay;  16^th, 50 Breast; Katie Kreger: 8^th, 200 Free (Z), 1^st, 200 Medley Relay; 3^rd, 50 Back (Z); 1^st, 200 Free Relay; 1^st, 50 Free; 2^nd, 100 Back (Z); 1^st, 50 Fly (Z); 1^st, 100 Free (Z); 1^st, 100 Fly (Z); Kayla Kreger: 20^th, 200 Free Relay; Caroline Lathrop: 21^st, 200 Medley Relay;  28^th, 400 Free Relay;  20^th, 400 Medley Relay; Warren Lee: 13^th, 800 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Medley Relay; 14^th, 400 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Free Relay; 8^th, 100 Back;  12^th, 400 Medley Relay; Griff Littlehale: 4^th, 400 Free Relay; 4^th, 200 Free Relay;  5^th, 400 Medley Relay; Kelly Metzger, 2^nd, 200 Free (Z); 1^st, 200 Medley Relay; 2^nd, 50 Back (Z); 1^st, 200 IM (Z); 1^st, 200 Free Relay; 7^th, 50 Free;  4^th, 100 Back (Z);  2^nd, 100 Free (Z); 3^rd, 100 Fly (Z); Blake Noonan: 11^th, 400 Free (Z); 6^th, 200 Medley Relay; 4^th, 400 Free Relay; 4^th, 200 Free Relay;  9^th, 50 Fly (Z); 8^th, 200 IM;  3^rd, 100 Fly (Z); Noah Peeps: 16^th, 1500 Free; 13^th, 800 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Medley Relay; 16^th, 200 Back; 14^th, 400 Free Relay; 14^th, 200 Free Relay;  14^th, 100 Back; 12^th, 400 Medley Relay; Alex Richards: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 6^th, 400 Free Relay; 6^th, 200 Free Relay; 14^th, 50 Free (Z); 15^th, 100 Back; 15^th, 50 Fly; Annika Richards: 28^th, 400 Free Relay; Haley Rosiak: 14^th, 800 Free Relay; 9^th, 400 Free Relay; 10^th, 200 Free Relay;  15^th, 400 Medley Relay;  17^th, 200 Medley Relay; Christina Schorsch: 21^st, 200 Medley Relay;  19^th, 400 Free Relay;  21^st, 200 Free Relay;  20^th, 400 Medley Relay; Jillian Shook: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 5^th, 200 Free Relay;  12^th, 50 Breast;  Alissa Shultz: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 5^th, 200 Free Relay; Emma Stout: 20^th, 200 Free Relay; Jessica Sucheck: 27^th, 400 Free Relay;  24^th, 400 Medley Relay; Samantha Sucheck: 10^th, 200 Medley Relay; 5^th, 200 Free Relay;  Eric Zhu: 13^th, 800 Free Relay.

10 & un Girls won High point. Katie Kreger, Kelly Metzger and Brea Fields took 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place individual high point; Kelsi Berry took 2nd place individual high point for 11-12 girls.

Congratulations to our outstanding age group swimmers!

They did it again!! After breaking the record last week, the same team of girls went up to Wisconsin and swam it again. This time, they set the bar even higher: 2:05.70!! Way to go Girls!

GTAC's 10 & Under Girls Relay team of Catherine Kight, Kelly Metzger, Katie Kreger and Brea Fields broke the National Record in the 200 Free Relay today at the Mike Peppe Meet at Ohio State University. Their time of 2:06.02 sets a new United State record. Helping the girls were the many other members of the 10 & under team who spurred them on to swim harder and faster. "This was definitely a team effort," stated Coach Chris Pierson. The girls have agreed to swim the event one more time in hopes of achieving an even faster record. Congratulations to GTAC coaches, Coach Chris Pierson and swimmers.

This is GTAC's 3rd National Record in its 40 year history. Jake Harms held the 11-12 Boys National Record in the 400 free and was part of the 11-12 boys Free Relay National Record for GTAC as well. We are proud to carry on GTAC's National winning tradition!

See article in Swimming World Magazine.

See article in Toledo Blade.

At the Cincinnati Marlin meet this weekend, the 10 & under girls team of Catherine Kight, Kelly Metzger, Katie Kreger and Brea Fields set a new Ohio LSC Record in the 200 Free Relay with a time of 2:06.70. They are .2 seconds away from the National Record. The same girls also set a new State Record in the 400 Free Record (4:49.01). Regan Bohm, Catherine Kight, Katie Kreger and Brea Fields also set a new State Record in the 400 Medley Relay (5:24.06).

At the Marlins Meet, Kelsi Berry (11-12), Catherine Kight (10 & un), and Rachel (Magic) Johnson (15 & Over) achieved High Point, while at the Findlay Meet, Alex Richards (11-12) and Alexa Francis (8 & un) achieved High Point, while Haley Patrick and Cameron Kaminski were both high point runners-up.

GTAC's swimmers have done an outstanding job this weekend at all three locations, earning personal bests, new cuts and winning many events.

Way to go, Hurricanes!

Our swimmers are in Mission Viejo, California for the Fran Crippen TYR Swim Meet of Champions; Cincinnati OH for the Cincinnati Marlins TYR Summer Classic, and Findlay OH for the Flag City Invitational. Check out the results at the following sites:

Mission Viejo Meet: http://www.socalswim.org/HTResults/2011SMOC/

Cincinnati Marlins Meet: http://www.cincy-marlins.com/Home.jsp?team=oscm

Flag City Meet: http://sites.google.com/site/fastswimfindlay/flag-city-meet

Go GTAC!

Thank you to all of the swimmers, parents, coaches and volunteers who made our 8th Annual GTAC Disability Open another great success. Here are the results:

Results.htm     Zip results     Meet Back-Up

SFS Senior State High School 200 Free Champion Mike DiSalle will be swimming at the Ohio State University this fall. Congratulations to Mike on his outstanding achievements in swimming. He will be joining teammate Rowan Williams as a Buckeye.

SFS Senior Water Polo stand-out Nick Carmony has signed to play water polo at Mercyhurst College. Congratulations, Nick!

SFS Senior State High School Relay Champion Dan Miller will be swimming at the University of Michigan this fall. Congratulations to Dan on his outstanding achievements in the pool. We look forward to his continued success as a Wolverine with former SFS/GTAC teammate Roman Willets.

SFS Senior State High School 500 Free Champion Rowan Williams will be swimming at the Ohio State University this fall. Congratulations to Rowan on his outstanding achievements in swimming. We look forward to his continued success as a Buckeye.

Haley Roberts and Kyle Crawford were the first to sign with collegiate swim teams in 2011. Roberts, a state-scoring standout at St Ursula Academy, has committed to swim for Bowling Green State University. Haley is strongest in buttefly and the backstroke.

SFS Senior Kyle Crawford has committed to swim for NCAA Division III  Mt. Union College. Crawford consistently scored well at Districts in the 200 IM, butterfly and backstroke.

Congratulations to the first two of GTAC's 2011 high school graduates to commit to collegiate teams. Since 2000, GTAC swimmers have earned nearly $2 million in collegiate scholarships for swimming.