Wingate, N.C.—-Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston and head men’s and women’s swimming coach Kirk Sanocki announce the hiring of Katie Pheil (’15) as assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach. An 11-time NCAA Division II All-American as a student-athlete for the Bulldogs, Pheil begins her new responsibilities immediately.
“I’m thrilled to have Katie take another step as part of the WU Swim family,” Sanocki says. “She was a tenacious competitor during her time as an undergraduate. Her passion, drive and determination will serve the team well as a mentor for the future Bulldog swimmers. I’m looking forward to watch her grow in this new role.”
During the 2014-15 season, Pheil was one of Wingate’s graduate assistant coaches. The Wingate women finished a program-best third at the 2015 NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships. The Bulldog men finished 12th, one point behind 11th-place Delta State (Miss.) University. Wingate’s men had finished 11th (or better) at the NCAA meet nine years in a row.
Pheil spent two seasons as Bulldog student-athlete. As a junior, she was a Bluegrass Mountain Conference champion in the 200 Backstroke. The same season, Pheil was a top-five qualifier in the 200 Backstroke and the 200 Freestyle at the 2013 NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships. She was the Wingate women’s swimming team MVP both seasons (2013 and 2014).
While a student-athlete at Daytona State (Fla.) College, Pheil was a five-time NJCAA All-American as well as an NJCAA champion in the 200 Backstroke for the Falcons. She earned an associate’s degree at Daytona State. Pheil received a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management at Wingate.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Wingate University, ranked as the 10th “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visitwww.youtube.com/wingateuniversity.
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past eight years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000’s with 72 selections. Among North Carolina’s colleges and universities, Wingate’s 76 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate’s 85 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.
Swimming news courtesy of Wingate University Swimming.
Congratulations Katie, Kirk and Wingate!