North Baltimore Aquatic Club Timeline
North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) began with eight swimmers in the summer of 1967. The team, originally started by Murray Stephens and Tim Pierce was incorporated in the spring of 1968 as an Amateur Athletic Union member club.
NBAC sent Bob Gavin to Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California in 1968 in the 200 Butterfly. This was just the beginning of the great swimming to come. Murray became the head coach in 1971 and in 1972 qualified the first NBAC girl for U.S. Nationals who placed 14th in 1650 Freestyle in Dallas, Texas. Carter Warfield, as NBAC’s Head Age Group Coach, developed scores of swimmers as precise in their technique as they were fast. Also, in 1972, Vicki English and Paula Crawford swam in the Olympic Trials in Chicago. In August of 1972, NBAC beat the Knights of Columbus Orchards team for the first time beginning a streak of unbeaten competition that continues to his day. In 1976, NBAC continued its fast-swimming when Janet Freudenstein placed 8th in 100 Backstroke at Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California. She missed making the team by only one second.
At the Olympic Trials in 1980 in Irvine, Theresa Andrews placed fifth in the 100 Backstroke and Polly Winde placed fifth in 200 Breaststroke. In November, John Cadigan began assisting Murray both at Loyola High School and with the NBAC Senior Group. The next summer, NBAC had its first National Champion when Theresa Andrews won the 100 Backstroke at U.S. Nationals in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. Theresa was not finished yet! NBAC sent three swimmers, Theresa, Julia Gorman, and Jill Johnson to Olympic Trials in 1984. After making the United States Olympic Team in 1984, Theresa won two gold medals in Backstroke in Los Angeles. Theresa swam to individual gold in the100 Backstroke and won her second on the USA 400 Medley Relay Team. That year, also at the Olympics, former NBAC swimmers Patrick Kennedy (USA) and Ricardo Aldabe (Spain) placed in the top eight in 200 Butterfly and 200 Backstroke respectively.
Tim Pierce and Carter Warfield coached with Murray for the first fifteen years of the club’s existence. In the spring of 1985, Tom Himes joined the staff as Head Age Group Coach. Patty Stephens began in the fall of 1987.
1986 brought a new name to the headlines. Julia Gorman flew to a silver medal in 200 Butterfly at the Goodwill Games in Moscow, U.S.S.R. that summer. She also won the first of her three U.S. National Titles at the Long Course Summer Championships in Santa Clara. Also, in the winter of 1986-1987, Murray and Patricia Stephens purchased Meadowbrook Swim Club in Mt. Washington and began planning for the NBAC’s third decade and beyond.
In 1992, Anita Nall set the swimming world on fire with two World and American Records in 200 Breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. Placing first in both breaststroke events qualified Anita to represent the United States at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Anita brought home gold, silver and a bronze medal from the Olympics. She added an American Record in the 100 Breaststroke and swam on the U.S.A. 400 Medley Relay team that set both World and American records. Former NBAC swimmer Jill Johnson (USA) placed in the B Final in 200 Breaststroke.
In 1994, another NBAC swimmer made it to international competition by winning her first National Championship in the 200-Butterfly. Whitney Phelps, by virtue of her 200 Butterfly title made the United States National Team which competed in Rome, Italy at the FINA World Championships. Whitney placed ninth in the event. 1994 also brought NBAC their first National Team Championship. In March, in Federal Way, Washington, the NBAC women captured the team title. At the U.S. Open Championship in 1994, the women’s team again captured the first-place title.
In 1995, the NBAC women captured their second straight spring U.S. National Team Championship. In August of 1995, Whitney Phelps and Beth Botsford earned positions on the U.S. National Team which competed in the Pan Pacific Games. In addition, Murray Stephens was selected as an assistant coach for the United States Pan Pacific Team.
The next Olympic year, 1996, saw the Summer Games return to U.S. soil for the Centennial Games in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAC age group phenom Beth Botsford rose to the occasion qualifying for both Backstroke events. Whitney Metzler qualified in 400 IM. Additionally, NBAC Head Coach Murray Stephens was named an assistant USA Olympic Coach for the women’s team. Beth won the 100 Backstroke gold medal, and like Theresa Andrews, swam to a second gold medal in the USA 400 Medley Relay. Whitney Metzler swam a lifetime best effort to make finals and finish eighth in 400 IM. Former NBAC swimmer Casey Barrett (CAN) placed in the B Final in 200 Butterfly. The 1996 chapter of NBAC’s story was not finished yet. Murray Stephens was named Coach of the Year by both the American Swimming Coaches Association and United States Swimming. Coach Bob Bowman joined the staff in the summer of 1996.
In 1997, Beth Botsford won both Backstroke National Titles at the U.S. National Championships in Buffalo, New York. In the summer Long Course Championships, Beth qualified for the World Championship Team for the 1998 FINA World Championships in Perth, Australia. Murray was named an Assistant Women’s USA National Team Coach.
In the summer of 1998 at Summer National, Anita Nall qualified for the 1999 World University Games in Spain and Beth Botsford earned a place on the 1999 Pan American Games Team, where she won a silver and a bronze medal. Coaches John Burke and Ann Hollister joined the NBAC staff in 1998. Murray was named Head USA Men’s Coach for the 2000 World Short Course Championships in Athens, Greece. Anita Nall competed for the U.S. at the same meet.
In 1999, NBAC began an Endowment Fund to ensure the club’s continued success. 1999 and 2000 saw NBAC host the FINA World Cup at the University of Maryland. Coach Michael Brooks joined NBAC in 1999 to lead the York satellite team at Crispus Attucks. 2000 was another Olympic year and once again NBAC swimmers competed at Olympic Trials. Michael Phelps became the youngest male swimmer in 68 years to make a US Olympic Team. Michael finished second in the 200-Butterfly to make the US squad. NBAC Senior Coach Bob Bowman accompanied Michael to Sydney, Australia where he finished fifth in the 200-Butterfly. Michael Phelps’ relentless assault on the National Age Group Records led to NBAC passing a milestone of having had its swimmers set over 100 of these records. NBAC introduced its first quadrennial practice cap with Athens 2004 on one side. Coaches Paul Yetter and Rachel Fishbain joined the staff in 2001.
In March of 2001, at age fifteen, Michael Phelps broke the World Record in the 200-Butterfly becoming the youngest male world record holder in history. NBAC Senior coach Bob Bowman was named as assistant US National Team Coach for the World Championships. Michael lowered his own World Record at the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July, winning a gold medal in the 200-Butterfly. In August, Michael won 200 IM and 100 Butterfly at U.S. National Championships in Fresno, California. He was the male high point award winner of the meet. Meghan Sackett, 14, finished third in 1500 Free winning the Female Rookie of the Meet award. Bob Bowman received both the ASCA and the USA Swimming Coach of the year honors.
2002 brought some new faces to the coaching staff while marking a new club milestone. Coaches Tom Yetter and Dan Dougher joined the staff as Paul Yetter took the lead coaching position in Harford County. Bob and Michael traveled to Yokohama, Japan for the Pan Pacific Games where Michael won four gold and two silver medals. Michael Phelps became NBAC's first multiple world record holder in Individual events when he broke the 400 IM record at Summer Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale. In a race considered by many to be one of the best races ever, Michael edged out Eric Vendt to take the record. Also, at Nationals, Jamie Barone was named Rookie of the Meet. Bob Bowman was named USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year. NBAC was named a 2002 USA Swimming Gold Club, one of only 20 in the country.
2003 began on a high note with NBAC retaining its title as Eastern Classic Champions in Atlanta, Georgia. In March, NBAC Harford standout twelve-year-old Courtney Kalisz set three National Age Group Records on Sunday at the Eastern Zone Region II Sectionals. In May, she continued her assault with six 11-12 national age group records in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Between those record-setting swims, Michael Phelps and Emily Goetsch competed for Team USA in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool between the United States and Australia. Emily finished fourth in 100 M Fly and Michael won three individual events and one relay. He broke his own world record in 400 IM and set a new American Record in 100 Fly. This just days after Michael had won national titles in 100 Fly, 200 Free and 200-Backstroke, becoming the first man to win titles in three strokes at a National Championship.
The Summer of 2003 saw Phelps on a tear unrivaled in the history of competitive swimming. In a span of two months, he broke the world records in the 200 IM four times, lowered his own 200 Fly and 400 IM records and broke the world record in 100 Butterfly. He left the World Championships in Barcelona with four gold and two silver medals. Shortly thereafter, Michael became the first man to win five national titles at Senior Nationals in College Park, Maryland where he won an unprecedented five national titles in 100, 200 (American Record) and 400 Free, 200 Back, and 200 IM, in which he broke his own world record. Emily Goetsch won her first national title in the 100 M Butterfly. NBAC was again named a USA Swimming Gold Club.
2004 was a year filled with expectations as the Olympic Games returned to their birth country of Greece. For four years, NBAC swimmers had practiced with caps that read "Athens 2004." The year began with Katie Hoff breaking her own 13-14 200 Meter IM NAG record at Auburn. In February, NBAC placed second at Senior Nationals behind 1st place efforts by Katie Hoff, Michael Phelps and Kevin Clements. In what would become a common sight in 2004, Michael graced his first national magazine cover (other than Swimming World) when he appeared on the cover of ESPN Magazine. In March, Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff each took a pair of NAG records at the Maryland Swimming Championship. In April, Michael won the prestigious Sullivan Award. May saw a first for NBAC. Underneath a tent covering three-fourths of the outdoor pool at Meadowbrook, 500 supporters of NBAC mixed with 13 Olympic hopefuls, past Olympians, parents, and coaches for the NBAC Countdown to Gold, an evening of live and silent auctions, dinner and dancing which raised monies for the NBAC Endowment Fund. Twelve NBAC swimmers attended the Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California in July. Michael Phelps led the team to an unprecedented 8 individual placings on the Olympic Team. He placed first in 200 and 400 IM, 200 Free, 200 Fly; second in 200 Back and 100 Fly. Katie Hoff, of NBAC's Harford site coached by Paul Yetter, earned positions in both 200 and 400 IM. In addition, Bob Bowman was named a Men's Assistant Olympic Coach. In Athens, Michael thrilled the world with a record-tying haul of eight medals, 6 gold, and two bronze. He won gold in 200 and 400 IM, 200 Butterfly, 100 Butterfly and the 4 x 200 Free Relay and the 4 x 100 Medley relay. In her first international meet, Katie Hoff finished seventh in 200 IM.
At the start of the 2004-2005 season, NBAC alumni Chris Kaplan joined NBAC as the Lead Coach of the York Site. The club also introduced its second team-wide practice cap with Beijing 2008 and the Chinese symbol for excellence for use for the next four years. In October, Katie Hoff won two medals at Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis; silver in 400 IM, bronze in 200 IM. At the NBAC Christmas Meet in December, the 11-12 Girls set a new NAG record in 400 Free Relay. Katie Hoff closed her Olympic year breaking two of the oldest NAG records: Tracy Caulkins 200 and 400 IM records from 1979. NBAC continued its national and international success in 2005. Courtney Kalisz represented the USA at Junior Pan Pacs in Hawaii, earning a silver and bronze medal NBAC sent eight swimmers to World Championship Trials. Katie Hoff made the USA Team in 4 individual events and one relay. Katie also broke the American Record in 200 IM. Choosing to swim three individual events in Montreal, Katie won Gold Medals in 200 and 400 IM, breaking her American & U.S. Open Record in 200 IM. Katie added to her Gold count by swimming on the 800 Free Relay. Coach Paul Yetter was also named a US Assistant Coach for the Women’s Team, joining coaches Murray Stephens and Bob Bowman as Team USA coaches. Courtney Kalisz continued her National Age Group Record haul, setting two in one day in 13-14 G 200-yard Backstroke. Katie Hoff also broke 15-16 G 100 Butterfly NAG record. NBAC was again honored as USA Swimming Gold Team.
The 2005-2006 Short Course season saw NBAC win the 6th annual dual meet with Curl-Burke. Katie Hoff won the Female Athlete of the Year at Golden Goggles. A strong NBAC team won the US Open in December. That set the stage for winning, in order, the Maryland Swimming Championships, The Eastern Zone Southern Regional Championships, and winning the Combined Team Spring National Championship in Federal Way, Washington. Individual Champions included Katie Hoff, Courtney Kalisz, and Felicia Lee. Felicia became the newest member of the NBAC NAG record-holders club adding the 13-14 G 100 Y Butterfly. Katie Hoff added the 15-16 500 Y Free, 400 Y IM, and 200 Y IM. The Long Course season began with Kirsten Groome winning the US Open Water 5K Championship. Katie Hoff added four NAG records in 200 M Free (twice), 200 M and 400 M IM. At the Summer National Championships in Irvine, Katie won the Kiputh Award high point award. Katie Hoff and Dan Madwed were named to Pan Pac Roster in Vancouver, British Columbia; Ian Rowe (Bronze 1500 Free) and Courtney Kalisz (Gold 200 Fly) named to FINA World Youth Championship team in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Courtney, Dan, Michele King and Kirsten Groome are candidates for 2007 Pan America Games and 2007 World University Games. Paul Yetter was named assistant US Women's Team coach for Pan Pacs. Ian Rowe and Felicia Lee are Rookie of the Meet winners. Kirsten Groome (4th) also competed in the 5K FINA Open Water World Championships in Naples, Italy. In the space of 16 days, NBAC athletes swam in competitions representing the United States on three different continents in two hemispheres. 2006 also saw Head Coach Murray Stephens inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame and the Loyola College Athletic Hall of Fame. NBAC was again honored as a Gold Medal team by USA Swimming.
The 2006-2007 Season got underway with Katie Hoff being named Female Athlete of the Year at the 3rd Annual Golden Goggles awards. 17 swimmers competed for NBAC in the US Open, with the women winning the meet and 2nd in the combined team score. The Christmas meet saw 6 NAG records fall, 3 relays by 13-14 girls and 3 individuals by Katie Hoff. Katie traveled to Melbourne for the 2007 World Championships where she won the 200 IM, was a member of the world record-setting 800 Free Relay and broke the world record in the 400 IM. Michael Phelps added to 200 Free to his World Record list and dominated the competition in five individual events. Back home NBAC won the MD LSC Championships, Sectionals, and the USA Swimming Spring Championships, again. Coach Paul Yetter, named a USA Team Coach for the Pan America Games in Brazil, accompanied Courtney Kalisz who won a silver medal in 200 M Butterfly. Across the world a couple of weeks later, Dan Madwed at the World University Games won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Bangkok, Thailand. Felicia Lee and Brennan Morris competed in the Japan International Meet with Coach Yetter in Chiba, Japan. NBAC Swim Camp started in June of 2007 with just over a dozen swimmers for one week of Day Camp.
2007-2008 began with great anticipation of the potential for Michael Phelps to contend for an unprecedented 8 Gold medals in Beijing. Katie Hoff was coming off her best year and hoped to add some Olympic medals to her World Championship and Pan Pacific medal count. In November, Katie again won the Female Athlete of the Year at Golden Goggles. 2007 ended at the Christmas Meet in Annapolis where Katie Hoff set 4 American records in 200 and 400 IM and the 500 and 1000 Freestyle. In 2008, NBAC continued its success with swimmers Liz Pelton, Austin Surhoff, and Andi Staub representing the US as part of the USA Junior National Team that competed in Melbourne, Australia as part of the Victorian Championships. In late January 2008, both Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps were honored with the USOC Sportswoman of the Year and Outstanding Performance of the Year Awards respectively. At the Missouri Grand Prix meet, Hoff excelled yet again, claiming 5 golds and a silver, as well two American records in the 200 and 400 freestyle. At the Maryland Swimming Championships, NBAC once again swam well with Liz Pelton taking down both NAG records for backstroke and Katie Hoff breaking the American Record in the 1650. At the Speedo Champion Series Eastern Zone meet in March of 2008, NBAC swimmers took down two more NAG records in the woman 13-14 200 and 400 medley relays. Also, Paul Yetter was named the USOC Development Coach of the Year. In May, NBAC held its second Gala in the outdoor pool. On the same day, Murray Stephens and Anita Nall Richesson were inducted into the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame. In July, Anita would also be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 2008 also meant it was the year of the Olympics and Olympic Trials. NBAC had more 17 and under (7) swimmers compete than any team in the country. Katie Hoff, went 5 for 5 in her bid to compete in Beijing, including several American and reclaiming her 400 IM World Record. With Coach Yetter named to the US Olympic staff, NBAC became the only age group club to ever have three of its coaches become Olympic coaches. NBAC Coach Scott Armstrong and swimmers Elizabeth Pelton and Austin Surhoff attended the 2nd FINA World Jr Swimming Champs in Monterey, Mexico. The 2008 Beijing Olympics saw Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps excel and Bob Bowman and Paul Yetter doing their part as coaches. Taking home 8 Golds, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze, it was certainly a great showing by NBAC swimmers, as Phelps broke 7 Worlds and 1 Olympic Record and Hoff broke an American Record.
The 2008-2009 season got underway with Liz Pelton breaking the NAG record in the 200-backstroke at the dual meet with Curl-Burke. NBAC unveiled the London 2012 practice cap for the next four years. Bob Bowman was named the 2009 World Championship Head Coach. At the Golden Goggle Awards, Michael Phelps won 3 awards and Coach Bowman was named Coach of the Year for the third time. Andi Staub, Jessie Krebs, Felicia Lee and Liz Pelton set a new NAG record in the 15-16 Women's 4 x 200 Free Relay and Pelton also set a new 15-16 NAG record in the 200-yard backstroke at the Christmas Meet. 2009 started off well with NBAC swimmers competing in the Junior Pan Pacific games. Liz Pelton and Austin Surhoff traveled to Guam for the competition. Liz won the 200 Back placed first on the 400 Free Relay; won a silver medal in 200 IM, and finished with another gold in 400 Medley Relay. Austin swam in finals in 100 Back, 200 Back, and won a bronze medal in the 200 IM. NBAC's Paul Yetter was an assistant men's coach. NBAC repeated as Maryland State Champions and finished 1st on the Women’s side and second overall at Sectionals in Germantown Maryland. The summer of 2009 saw multiple swimmers from NBAC at World Championship Trials in Indianapolis. Michael broke the 100 Butterfly World Record and Elizabeth Pelton and Brennan Morris placed on the team for World Championships in Rome, Italy. In Italy, Michael broke both butterfly World Records and contributed to all three winning relays. Elizabeth swam to a sixth-place finish in the 200-Backstroke. A week later, in Federal Way, Washington, NBAC won Junior Nationals led by Felecia Lee, Camryne Morris and Drew Cosgarea. Kennan Robinson, Jamie Barone and Solomon Sniad joined and Coach Tom Himes returned to the coaching staff.
The 2009-2010 Season commenced with the announcement that founding coach Murray Stephens would be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in May of 2010. Coach Paul Yetter left NBAC for Auburn University. In January 2010, the team traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina for the SwimMac Invite which NBAC won. NBAC won the Maryland LSC Short Course Championships and prevailed at Sectionals again. NBAC alumni Austin Surhoff won the 200 IM in his freshman year at the University of Texas. Many of the staff traveled to Ft. Lauderdale for Murray’s induction into the International Hall of Fame. June saw our top training group athletes, High Performance 1 in Paris to compete at the Paris Open. The end of summer saw Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Elizabeth Pelton and Scott Spann make Team USA for the Pan Pacific Championships at Nationals in Irvine, California. Michael won five golds – both butterflies and all three relays, Allison won the 200 Free and Liz won a silver in the 200 Back.
The beginning of 2010-2011 saw Tom Himes taking the reins as Head Age Group Coach. Coach Tom Yetter left to join his brother Paul at T-2 Aquatics in Naples, Florida. As the fall and winter season progressed through the Columbus Day Classic, Fall Fastival, Candy Cane Meet, and Christmas Meet, NBAC’s HP 1 swimmers continued on the Grand Prix Circuit making stops in Minneapolis, Austin, Ann Arbor, Charlotte and Santa Clara in 2010 and 2011. NBAC swimmers attended the Larson Allen Invitational in January where NBAC again prevailed beating host SwimMAC by 700 points. The spring brought new meets to the age grouper with 34, 10-14-year-olds traveling to Clearwater, Florida to compete at the NASA Showcase Classic and the next week 23 high schoolers in Nashville, Tennessee at the All American Nike Classic. During the summer of 2011, Coach Mark Schubert gave talks and instruction during two weeks of NBAC Swim Camp. Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Liz Pelton and Scott Spann represented Team USA in Shanghai, China at the FINA World Championships. Michael won seven medals, 4 gold, two silver and I bronze; Allison was golden in the 4 x 200 Free Relay.
The 2011-2012 season began with the anticipation of another Olympics at the end of the long course season. Coaches Erik Posegay and Stevie Coble joined the coaching staff in August of 2011. NBAC announced in September its first-ever Winter Break Swim Camp to be held between Christmas and New Year’s. Planning began for the third Quadrennial Gala, this time held at M&T Bank Stadium. NBAC was a strong supporter of the inaugural Swim Across America Baltimore event in late September with NBAC alumni Olympian Patrick Kennedy starting the pool swim. Coach Bowman as named an assistant coach to his third Olympic squad. September also saw alumna swimmer Whitney Phelps Flickinger inducted into the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame. October saw Allison, Michael and Chase travel to Moscow and medal at the FINA World Cup. December saw Michael in his final SC Yard swims at the Christmas Meet in Annapolis. NBAC won the Larson Allen in Charlotte again while the top HP swimmers competed in the Grand Prix meet in Austin. In April, NBAC's third quadrennial gala, Countdown to Gold 2012 feted 24 Olympic Trial qualifiers along with scores of alumni swimmers at M&T Bank Stadium. In May, the Charlotte Grand Prix followed by an extended altitude training session in Colorado leading up to Olympic Trials in Omaha. In June, Ian Silverman was named to the Team USA Paralympic Team, an NBAC first. At Trials, Michael made the team in four individual events, 400 and 200 IM, 100 and 200 Butterfly. Teammate Allison Schmitt qualified in the 200 and 400 Freestyle and the 400 and 800 Free Relays. Michael would go on in London to be named to all three American Relays. In London, Michael won gold medals in 200 IM and 100 Butterfly, silver in the 200 Butterfly and 400 Free Relay and golds in the 800 Free Relay and 400 Medley Relay. Allison became NBAC’s sixth individual medalist with gold medal finishes in 200 free, 800 Free Relay and 400 Medley Relay, silver in 400 Free and a bronze in the 400 Free Relay. Back in the US, NBAC won Junior Nationals with Gillian Ryan taking the high point award. At Junior Pan Pacs in Hawaii, Chase Kalisz, Annie Zhu, Cierra Runge and Becca Mann all medaled.
The 2012-2013 season started with NBAC’s 1st Paralympic swimmer, Ian Silverman competing in London and winning a gold medal in S10 400 Free. 8 swimmers were named to the National Team Roster: Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Austin Surhoff, Chase Kalisz, Gillian Ryan, Cierra Runge, Camryne Morris and Annie Zhu. In November, Bob Bowman, Michael and Allison all won awards at the Golden Goggles in New York. In December, Michael won the AP Athlete of the Year honor. January found NBAC at the Cera Ve Invitational at Rutgers University where the team again took first. In March, NBAC repeated as LSC Short Course champions and then won the Central Sectional in Indianapolis. NBAC’s Chase Kalisz won the 400 IM at NCAA’s. In April, Ian Silverman continued his assault on S10 world records in 800 and 1500 Free. In June, French swimmer Yannick Agnel joined NBAC. Summer 2013 was one of the times when NBAC athletes were all over the world competing. In July, Austin Surhoff won a silver medal at World University Games in Kazan, Russia. Chase and Conor Dwyer competed and medaled in the Barcelona FINA World Cup. Ian Silverman and Becca Meyers represented TEAM USA both competing and medaling at IPC Paralympic World Championships in Montreal. Cierra Runge was in Dubai for the World Junior Swimming Championship where she won gold in the 800 Free along with a relay silver and two bronzes.
At Team Day and the start of the 2013-2014 season, NBAC inaugurated two memorial scholarships in memory of Alec Cosgarea and Louis Lowenthal, two swimmers who passed away in 2012. Ian Silverman won the Trischa Zorn award for best performance of the year by an adapted swimmer. Gillian Ryan, Matt McLean, Chase Kalisz, Conor Dwyer and Tom Luchsinger were selected for the Duel in the Pool with the European all-stars in Scotland in December. Coach Posegay was named a Women’s assistant coach. Danish swimmer Lotte Friis and Paralympian Jessica Long joined the High-Performance training group. At Golden Goggles in November, Chase Kalisz won Breakout Swimmer of the Year. December saw the Christmas Meet reach a milestone as the 40th Annual took place in St. Mar’s City. In January, NBAC repeated as Cera Ve Champ in Rutgers. Ian Silverman broke the S10 world record in 400 IM. In March, Chase broke the NCAA and American record in 400 IM. In April, alumna swimmer Brandy Wood Franklin, Keith Mills and the Old Loyola Pool were among the inductees to the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame. Tim Pierce and Bill Korrow accepted a plaque of the old pool records for Loyola. 16 NBAC swimmers flew to Mesa for a Grand Prix that marked Michael Phelps’s first competition since retiring after London. In May, Coach Roman Willetts joined the staff. The Santa Clara Grand Prix served as the post altitude meet for swimmers prepping for Nationals, hopeful of a berth on the Pan Pacific Team. Sierra Schmidt swept the distance events at Junior Nationals. Ian Silverman, Jessica Long and Becca Meyers all represented Team USA at the Pan Pac Para Swimming competition in Pasadena, California. Ian won gold in 400 Free, silver in 200 IM and bronzes in 100 Free, 100 Back and 400 Free Relay. Jessica won gold in 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 400 Free, 200 IM, 100 Free and 400 Free Relay and a silver in 100 Back. Becca won golds in 100 Fly, 400 Free, 200 IM, 100 Free and a silver in 50 Free. The three swam to 17 total medals, 11 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze. The 13-14 season closed with 6 NBAC swimmers Down Under at Pan Pacs in Gold Coast, Australia. Michael won 100 Butterfly, silver in 200 IM, Chase won bronze in 400 IM, Cierra Runge won silver in 400 Free; Conor Dwyer, Matt McLean and Michael won Gold on 800 Free Relay. Becca Mann competed in 10K Open Water. Sierra Schmidt won 800 and 1500 at Junior Pan Pacs and was named Swimmer of the Meet.
2014-2015 began with NBAC placing 7 on the U.S. National Team. October saw the team revive an old tradition and have a Bull Roast fundraiser themed ½ Way to Rio. Sadly, October also brought news of the passing of club co-founding coach Tim Pierce. Coach Posegay was named to the coaching staff for Pan Am’s. Jessica Long was named the 2014 Para-Swimming Athlete of the Year by USOC and in January, NBAC repeated as Cera Ve Champions. In February, Cierra Runge broke the NCAA record in 500 Free at Pac 12’s. In March, NBAC won the Short Course LSC Championship and then sent a squad to Indianapolis and won the Central Sectional meet. Becca Meyers and Jessica Long were chosen for Team USA IPC Swimming World Championship in Scotland. Jessica Long and Becca Meyers tore up the record books at IDM Berlin. In April, Becca Mann won her second consecutive Open Water 10 K National Championship. Coach Bowman accepted the position of Head Coach at Arizona State University. Coach Posegay was named Head Coach. In May, Coach Kevin Wynosky joined the staff. In July, Becca Meyers won the ESPY for Best Female Athlete with a Disability. In July, Allison Schmitt represented TEAM USA at Pan Am Games, breaking a 32-year-old Sippy Woodhead 200 Free Record. Sierra Schmidt joined her with a Gold in the 800 Free also crushing a long-standing record. In Kazan, Russia, Team USA participants included Cierra Runge, Chase Kalisz, Becca Mann along with Lotte Friis, representing Denmark. Chase won bronze in the 400 IM and Cierra was golden in 800 Free Relay. In San Antonio, Texas at Nationals, Michael Phelps posted the fastest times in the world in 100 and 200 Butterfly and 200 IM.
Coach Tom Himes was named ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year at the start of the 2015-2016 season. With the postgraduates training in Arizona, but still representing NBAC, the anticipation of Rio was building. In October, Tom Himes was “roasted” by an all-star panel of Maryland Swimming coaches. Becca Mann was named to Team USA for the Duel in the Pool in Indianapolis in December. November brought news that Lotte Friis would represent Denmark in her third Olympics in Rio. Michael and Allison Schmitt were honored at Golden Goggles. In December, the postgrads won Winter Nationals and USA Swimming named NBAC a Gold Medal team for an unprecedented 15th consecutive year. January found NBAC in familiar territory, atop the score at Rutgers at the Cera Ve Invitational. Katie Hoff announced her retirement from competitive swimming in February. On April 9, over 350 people gathered at the Buomi Temple in White Marsh for Countdown to Gold 2016, NBAC’s fourth and most successful gala. It was the largest number of NBAC alumni gathered for such an event and funds raised supported travel expenses for NBAC to go to the Olympic Trials. In May, former coach Scott Armstrong was named Head Coach at Johns Hopkins University. At Olympic Trials in Omaha, NBAC had its largest-ever number of swimmers placed on an Olympic Team, Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Chase Kalisz and Cierra Runge. Michael was selected to carry the USA flag in the Opening ceremonies and Ana Bogdanovski carried the flag for Macedonia making two Olympic flag bearers from one swim team. Along with Lotte Friis and Ana, Muhammad Hussein of Egypt had trained at NBAC for the past year bringing NBAC’s total number of athletes to 7. On opening night, Chase raced to a lifetime best time and a silver medal in the 400 IM. Michael won gold in 200-Butterfly and 200-IM, silver in 100-Butterfly and three relay golds. Allison Schmitt won gold for 800 Free Relay and silver on 400 Free Relay. Cierra Runge won gold on 800 Free Relay. A month later in Rio, Becca Meyers and Jessica Long brought 10 medals home. Becca won S13 400 Free, 100 Fly and 200 IM all in world record time and won silver in 100 Free. Jessica won Gold in S8 200 IM, silver in SB7 100 Breast, S8 400 Free and 400 Free Relay and bronze in 100 Fly and 100 Back.
Beginning its 50th competitive season (if you count 67-68 as Season 1), NBAC voted to expand its Board of Directors to seven members, including the Head Coach. The Board of Directors named Tom Himes NBAC’s fifth Head Coach. Becca Meyers won the Trischa Zorn Award at the Aquatics Convention. At the United States Olympic Committee Team USA Awards, NBAC was selected among all groups and organizations in all Olympic Sports in the United States to receive the Building Dreams Award. John Cadigan and Tom Himes accepted the award from the Chairman of the USOC. In November of that year, Paul Yetter returned as Head Senior Coach.
