From left-to-right, Baylor swimmers Gershwin Greene (Virginia Tech), Peter Lochmaier (Air Force Academy), Jason Green (St. Bonaventure) and Sam Suer (Kentucky) have all signed to continue their swimming careers at Division I universities.
photo by Dennis Norwood
The Baylor swim team is about to make a huge splash in the world of Division I collegiate sports. With four signees to four different programs, the school with more total sports championships than any other in the state of Tennessee will take another major step forward as Jason Green, Gershwin Greene, Peter Lochmaier and Sam Suer head to St. Bonaventure, Virginia Tech, the United States Air Force Academy and Kentucky, respectively, following the completion of their senior year.
Gershwin Greene
For Greene it was the “friendliness of the team and coaches.
And the atmosphere surrounding the school and program” that drew the Bahamas’ national record holder in the 50-meter free style event.
As well as being a member of the Bahamas National Team, while at Baylor Greene has been a three-time state relay champion, twice an all-state relay team member, a four-time relay All-American, a state qualifier in the 50 and 100 free and a junior national qualifier in those two events.
Greene also looked at South Carolina, Purdue, Penn State and Cincinnati before picking the Hokies.
Sam Suer
A second year competitor for the Red Raiders chose Kentucky, because as she said, “They were the first school to contact me and I really felt I could contribute there next year. I liked their enthusiasm.”
Suer, who swims the butterfly, was a member of the state finalist girls 200 medley and 200 free relay teams, as well as being a member of the 2016 Baylor team that finished third overall.
Suer, from New York, also considered Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Southern Methodist as places to continue her career and education.
Peter Lochmaier
For Lochmaier, whose sister Emma is currently a First Classman (senior) at the Academy, there was never any thought to go elsewhere. As the future Air Force officer put it, “it’s their motto ‘integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do’ that attracted me. It’s just a great school.”
Lochmaier, a seventh year student from Signal Mountain, is a two-time relay All-American, a Southeastern Swimming champion and record holder and placed second at the state championships in the 100 fly and 500 freestyle. He is also a Junior National qualifier in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 500 free and 400 IM.
Jason Green
Green, who has been swimming competitively for six years, said when asked what led him to St. Bonaventure, “I wanted to head further north. I’m not a fan of the heat” The Asheville, N.C. native also wants to pursue a double major in computer science and cyber security and felt that the school was his best fit to make that happen.
Green is currently a Southeastern Swimming record holder, as well as a Junior National qualifier in the 200 IM, 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. He has also been a state finalist in the 200 IM.
The four all agree that Baylor was the right place to be to hone their skills and receive a great education. For Greene it was, “the chance to be around the most talented swimmers. It was fun to train with these guys. I’ve had a lot of fun and been able to swim in a very competitive atmosphere.”
Suer, the future Wildcat, said, “We have a great coach in Coach (Dan) Flack. The whole team is just super supportive and it makes you eager to improve.”
Green, the future Bonnie, said, “It’s the whole boarding school experience, the community and how we know everyone. It’s like a family here.”
And Lochmaier, who is headed the furthest away, summed it up by saying, “It’s the people (at Baylor), the greatest coaches and the best people that have made this a wonderful experience.”
(Contact Dennis Norwood at sportsshooter614@gmail.com; follow him on Twitter at @DennisENorwood)