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Kalvin Koethke, one of the top prep 50 freestylers in the country for the Hilliard Hurricanes and Grove City High School, will be an Ohio State Buckeye next fall. Koethke is a pure sprinter who ranked 5th on NISCA’s All-American list in the 50 last year:
- 50 freestyle: 20.18
- 100 freestyle: 45.24
What makes Koethke truly exceptional is that he has not been a year round swimmer up to this point. Both his grandfather and father played professional baseball, and Koethke has spent his summers on the diamond. Koethke’s father, Tim was a first basemen in the Gulf Coast League for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
The younger Koethke is paving his own athletic future in swimming. In 2015 he was the Ohio State High School champion in the 50 freestyle. He also finished in 3rd place at the 2015 YMCA Short Course Nationals in that same event.
Koethke will have an immediate impact in Columbus, where his 50 freestyle would have put him in the C-Final at last year’s B1G Championship. He also would have been in their top four in that event and could be on an NCAA qualifying relay. Koethke is a raw talent that also has a lot of potential to improve his 100 freestyle and contribute in the two most important events in college swimming. He improved from 21.42 and 48.47 the previous year.
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