Current Greater Toledo Aquatic Club Alumni Collegiate Swimmers 2009-2010
GTAC’s coaches and parents are proud to present our current list of GTAC collegiate swimmers. All of these swimmers are carrying heavy academic loads while dedicating dozens of hours weekly to their swimming regimens. Most have earned partial or full scholarships to these schools for their hard work and aquatic achievements. These swimmers continue the 37 year old GTAC tradition of maintaining excellence at the collegiate level in all NCAA conferences, with nearly $2 million in athletic scholarships earned since 2000 for GTAC swimmers. Learn more about our current collegiate swimmers and follow their success by visiting the website following their school name.
Men
Carroll, Mike: Miami University www.muredhawks.com Mike carries on the Carroll legacy at Miami in his senior year as Team Captain and 2nd Team All-MAC in the breaststroke. Mike was a mulitple All-American in the fly and IM while at St Francis de Sales.
Friderichs, Scott: University of Tennessee www.utsports.com Scott enters his junior year with the Vols as a middle and long distance specialist, as they continue to be a dominate team in their conference and the NCAA Scott won Districts and was a state qualifier in the 200 and 500 free while at St Francis.
Katich, Joe: Denison University www.denison.edu The Big Red came in 3rd in NCAA Division III Championships, and Joe joins them as a pre-Med major this fall, bringing with him great success as a butterfly and freestyle specialist at St Francis.
Pierson, Lorin: University of Maryland www.umterps.com The Terrapins came in 8th in the ACC Conference Championships, where Lorin enters as a freshman butterfly and freestyle specialist. Pierson comes off of an excellent long course season with GTAC where he achieved all personal bests at the Speedo Sectional Meet and helped GTAC to come in 6th place overall.
Spang, Ben: Pomona College www.pomona.edu Ben not only became a strong, long distance freestyle specialist while at St Francis, but also was a National Merit Finalist. We look for great things in and out of the pool for Ben at this Division III California college.
Valigosky, Alex: John Carroll University www.jcusports.com Alex specializes in breaststroke and IM in his sophomore year with the Blue Streaks. Alex scored at high school districts in these events while at St Francis and continues to help JCU score well in the OAC Conference.
Willets, Roman: University of Michigan www.mgoblue.com Willets joins one of the top recruiting classes in the nation at one of the strongest men's programs in collegiate swimming. Coming off of an outstanding summer, where he scored 4th at US Junior Nationals in the 100 free, 10th in the 200 free and 23rd in the 50 free, and a Ohio state high school championship for St Francis in the 200 free, and runner-up in the 100 free, Roman will be an asset to the Wolverine's freshman class.
Women
Myers, Amy: Grand Valley State University www.gvsulakers.com Grand Valley enters the 2009 season as 9th place finishers at NCAA Division II Championships. Amy, who had an outstanding long course season with GTAC, achieving all personal best times, will contribute as a backstroke and free specialist.
Roberts, Gabby: Ashland University www.ashland.edu Gabby enters her sophomore year with the Eagles as a butterfly and freestyle specialist from St Ursula Academy. Ashland is in the GLIAC conference of Division II of the NCAA.
The University of Toledo Rockets Women's Team trains with GTAC during the off-season, under the coaching of Head Coach Lars Jorgensen and Assistant coach Liz Hinkleman, both of whom also are GTAC senior coaches. The Rockets came in 3rd in the MAC last season with several records and NCAA B cuts, and this summer saw great success for Jacy Dyer and Kylie Gamelier, who both qualified for and competed in the World Championship Trials at IUPUI. Jacy also set two new pool records at the Speedo Sectional Championships at Miami University in the 800 meter free (8:50.56) and 1500 meter free (16:54.91). She achieved the High Point award and multiple US Open cuts. Also contributing to GTAC's 6th place finish at Sectionals, with multiple US Open and Senior National cuts were Laura Heckroth, Laura Lindsay, Amanda Thompson, Cara Frohman, Louise Smith, Katie White, Leslee Winfield, Jacque Fate, Meg Reissig, Megan Friedli and Kristin Smith. Check on their 2009-2010 season by visiting www.utrockets.com .