See a video interview with Sam Loescher here.
Sam Loescher always told his parents that when it came time to pick a college, he would choose one in a place where it doesn’t snow. Turns out, the Columbus North senior not only picked a college where the flakes fall, but one where it snowed during his campus visit — in September.
Loescher announced Thursday (Oct. 10) that he has made an oral commitment to swim at the University of Wyoming.
“It’s kind of far away, but I like the program, like the coaches and love the team,” said Loescher, who chose the Cowboys after also considering North Carolina, Louisville and Purdue. “I see their program as a rising program, and I really want to be a part of it.”
During his visit two weeks ago to the campus in Laramie, Wyo., Loescher — who plans to study biology and pre-medicine so he one day can become an orthopedic surgeon — said the university and swim program offered everything he sought.
“I had a really good visit,” he said, noting the trip of about 1,200 miles required a one-hour drive to Indianapolis, a two-hour flight to Denver and a two-hour drive to Laramie. “I felt the academics satisfied my needs. The advisors I met with were really great, and the weight coach was ideal for me. I loved everything that they had there.”
A top-five finisher in two individual events at the 2013 Indiana high school state championships, Loescher also contributed to a pair of top-three relays at last winter’s state meet.
He made his commitment during a phone conversation Wednesday evening (Oct. 9) with Wyoming associate head coach Matt Leach and will sign a national letter-of-intent with the Cowboys during the early-signing period that runs Nov. 13-20.
The Bull Frogs’ standout will join a Wyoming program that is coached by Tom Johnson, placed second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference and qualified one swimmer in three events to the NCAA Championships. The Cowboys move to the Western Athletic Conference for the 2013-14 season.
By NCAA regulations, neither Johnson nor Leach may comment on a prospect until after Loescher signs his letter of intent. Columbus North coach Jim Sheridan expressed happiness for Loescher.
“Sam has come a long way from the days of wearing the baggy suits that he used to wear,” Sheridan said. “He’s all arms and legs because he continues to grow. He’s finally gaining some strength, and I think he will make the coaches at Wyoming look like genuises. In the future, there will be other coaches who ask, ‘Why didn’t somebody tell us about him?’ ”
As a junior, Loescher placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle in 46.10 seconds and tied for fifth in the 50 free in 21.28 at the 2013 Indiana state meet. He also teamed with classmate Cody Taylor, then-sophomore Matt Freudenthaler and then-senior Sam Parker in helping the 200 free relay place second at state in a school-record 1:24.99. The same quartet finished third at state in the 400 free relay in 3:07.83.
This season, Loescher said his goals are to win the 50 free and make a strong run at the 100 free.
“He has the capability of doing both,” Sheridan said. “He has to make his starts more consistent off the block, but his physicality in the water is excellent and he continues to improve his stroke on a daily basis.”
Loescher becomes second Bull Frog swimmer and the ninth member of Columbus North’s class of 2014 to make a college commitment. Taylor, his teammate, committed to Indiana University for swimming last week.
The other CN seniors who have announced college plans are Kenadie Carlson (women’s soccer, Xavier), Kelsey Cunningham (women’s basketball, Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Christian Fairbanks (men’s golf, Indiana), Tayler Goodall (women’s basketball, Florida Gulf Coast), Michael VanDeventer (men’s golf, Ball State) and twins Mara and Tessa Krempel (both women’s track, Western Kentucky).
As for his past comments about attending school in a no-snow zone, Loescher noted the irony.
“It snowed one day during the visit, which is interesting because I had come from 80-degree weather here in Indiana,” he said. “But I really like it there, and I’m confident that I can help the team and the team can help me.”
The above is a press release submitted by the Columbus North Athletics Department and their Sports Information officer Pat McKee.