Indiana University Athletics
IU Inks Nine Additional Men
7/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
June 29, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Ray Looze and the Indiana University swimming program announced the signing of nine additional male student-athletes for the 2005-06 academic year. Tyler Boulden (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.), Keith Dawley (Allen/Allen, Texas), George Grcevich (Chesterton/Chesterton, Ind.), Justin Peterfish (Worthington Christian/Delaware, Ohio), James Schwartz (The Peddie School/Mount Laurel, N.J.), Michael Son (Edmonds Woodway/West Lynnwood, Wash.), Heath Tameris (Sycamore/Cincinnati, Ohio), Steffan Troxel (Jackson/Jackson, Mo.) and Jeff Wood (Fairport/Fairport, N.Y.) will join already-signed A.J. Miller (Northridge/Middlebury, Ind.) and Steven Murry (Gateway Christian/Memphis, Tenn.) to comprise the influx of new talent to the Hoosier swim corps.
"The class shaped up very nicely," Looze said. "After signing A.J. Miller and Steven Murry in the fall, we are very pleased to end up with 11 guys, which was our best-case scenario moving forward into next year."
Boulden, a four-time All-American from Indianapolis, Ind., helped North Central to a state championship as the team captain his senior season. Additionally, Boulden qualified for finals at state four times as well as earned four All-MIC honors each year as a prep. He also claimed the 100-yard breaststroke sectional crown.
"Tyler is an exciting breaststroke prospect from one of the best club teams in Indiana," Looze said. "He is an outstanding person with great character and integrity. We are looking forward to developing him, and tapping into his potential."
Dawley, a three-time All-American from Allen, Texas, led Allen High School to a district and regional championship during his prep tenure. Additionally, Dawley claimed all-state recognition each season. Meanwhile, the 2005 District and Regional Champion in the 100 butterfly helped his squad to a trio of school records in the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free relays. Dawley provided the beginning of a solid bookend to his high school career by winning both the 200 medley and 400 free relay district and region championships as a freshman. As a member of Metroplex Aquatics, Dawley qualified in the 100 and 200 butterfly events at junior nationals in 2003 and 2004. Away from the pool, Dawley graduated in the top-25 percent of his class while earning spots in both the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society.
"Keith Dawley will give us great help in both the 100 and 200 butterfly," Looze said. "He has the potential to score in both at the Big Ten level, which will add to what is already a strength on our team."
Grcevich, an 11-time All-American from Chesterton, Ind., paced Chesterton High School to a 43-1 dual-meet record during his prep career. He also led the squad to four consecutive conference and sectional titles as a four-year letterwinner. Individually, Grcevich picked up 16 sectional and 12 conference crowns as well as earned all-state recognition. Meanwhile, Grcevich performed in the classroom as evidenced by his membership in the National Honor Society. Additionally, Grcevich snared Distinguished Honor Student and Scholar-Athlete recognition.
"His best event will probably be the IM," Looze said. "George is very powerfully built and has good size. We are going to have to work on his flexibility, but he is a very, very good student. He comes from an area that has produced some of the better Indiana swimming talent over the years. He is a guy that we look to develop over the next season or two."
Peterfish, a two-time all-state team member from Delaware, Ohio, served as the Worthington Christian team captain each of his four seasons with the program. Additionally, Peterfish claimed Ohio Central District titles in both his junior and senior campaigns. On the national swimming circuit, Peterfish competed at the U.S. Open in San Antonio, Texas, and at Junior Nationals in Irvine, Calif. Away from the water, Peterfish performed as the vice president of his senior class on the student council.
"Justin is from a swimming family, and his dad was his coach," Looze said. "Justin is a super team member. He has great leadership skills. He is very talented. We are excited to see how he reacts to being in our training environment, where he is going to have a lot more people to race and compete against. Jeff is going to be able to contribute, possibly as a freshman and certainly as a sophomore."
Schwartz, a two-time captain of The Peddie School from Mt. Laurel, N.J., earned four letters during his prep career. Additionally, Schwartz picked up a pair of first team All-Prep Swimming honors. Scholastically, Schwartz earned honor roll status and was a member of the Spanish Club. Meanwhile, he served as a new student orientation program leader and a prefect at Peddie.
"Jimmy Schwartz comes to us from one of the top preparatory schools (Peddie School) in the country," Looze said. "He is ready to take the next step in his swimming career and move onto senior national time standards. With this level of improvement he will put himself in position to score at the Big Ten meet as a freshman."
Son, a district champion from West Lynnwood, Wash., garnered a berth in the state finals as a member of Edmonds Woodway High's swimming squad. Academically, Son is affiliated with the National Honor Society and the International Baccalaureate Program.
"Michael is an excellent distance swimmer from the northwest," Looze said. "He is an outstanding trainer. He is capable of doing some great stuff in the practice sessions. If we can channel that into the racing area, he is really going to be able to help us in the mile, specifically. Michael is a wonderful student, and committed to us back in the fall after the early signing date. He is going to be someone that helps us in a number of areas, not only in the classroom and the training pool, but ideally in the mile."
Tameris, a seven-time All-American from Cincinnati, Ohio, led Sycamore to four consecutive conference championships during his time in the prep ranks. Additionally, Tameris placed second in the 100 breaststroke and eighth in the 200 IM at the state championships his senior season. As a member of the Cincinnati Marlins club team, Tameris finished fifth in the 100 breast at the U.S. Open in San Antonio, Texas, and competed at the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Tameris also was a three-year letterwinner in water polo and paced his team to a regional championship as a three-time member of the all-state first team. Water polo also runs in his family as sister Jaclyn just completed her sophomore season for the Hoosiers. In the classroom, Tameris graduated with high honors and served in the German Club and the Student-Athlete Leadership Team.
"Heath is a legacy here," Looze said. "His sister plays water polo for IU. He is from the Cincinnati area. He is one of the top breaststrokers in the country coming in. He finished second at the Ohio State Championship. We feel Heath is going to come into score in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at Big Tens his freshman year. Heath has the potential to eventually get to the NCAAs if he keeps improving and improves his flexibility. He is a very powerfully built young man who is very strong. His father swam in college, so he comes from a very strong swimming background."
Troxel, a senior national and junior national qualifier in the distance freestyle events, also competed at the 2005 World Championship Trials in Indianapolis as well as the U.S. Open in San Antonio, Texas in 2004. Academically, Troxel garnered Scholastic All-America honors and was a member of the jazz band, marching band and symphonic wind ensemble. Additionally, Troxel claimed four all-district laurels for his work with the band and was a state composition contest winner as well as a district Math Counts champion. Meanwhile, he earned Southeast Missouri wind ensemble distinction.
"Steffan is another distance specialist," Looze said. "He has two national times in the 800 and the mile. He is a very, very bright young man. He had the opportunity to go to Ivy League schools and chose us, which we feel very good about academically. Steffan, again, will have a great opportunity to score in at least the mile at Big Tens next year."
Wood, a 16-time All-American from Fairport, N.Y., paced Fairport to three state and sectional championships. Individually, Wood earned New York State Swimmer of the Year and Meet accolades as the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle state champion his senior season. As a junior, Wood also snared a state title in the 100 back, as well as scored two relay crowns. Previously, Wood helped a pair of relays to new state records his sophomore campaign. As a member of the Fairport Area Swim Team, Wood took second place in the 50 backstroke at the Junior National Championships in Orlando, Fla., while qualifying for finals four times. The Wendy's High School Heisman New York State Finalist also secured spots at the U.S. Open and World Cup on the club circuit. Away from the pool, Wood is a member of the National Honor Society and served as vice president of Fairport's German National Honor Society. Meanwhile, Wood garnered a berth on the High Honor Roll and in the Leo Club.
"Jeff is a New York state champion in the 100 back and 200 free," Looze said. "He is one of the top 100 backstrokers coming in this year out of high school. He is a very good kicker and underwater specialist. Jeff is also an excellent student from the same area as former IU diver Marc Carlton. They are from the same neck of the woods, so we are keeping that Rochester, N.Y., tradition alive. Jeff has a real good opportunity to come in and score as a freshman at the Big Ten level."
