MAC wins #1 06-07 Scholastic All American Team with most representatives 14 women & 18 men

CHARLOTTE, NC   December 14, 2007.  MAC is represented by 32 outstanding athlete scholars (14 women/18 men) on their 2006-2007 Scholastic All American Swim Team, more than any other USA Swimming Club. The qualifications for receiving this designation are quite rigorous, involving the calculation of two scores; one for swimming and one for academics that, combined, must be at a certain delta to qualify.  To honor this accomplishment, MAC is hosting a celebratory breakfast for the athletes, their families, and their coaches at the MAC Latin pool facility on Saturday, December 22nd at 10:00 am, proudly provided by the newly opened The Flying Biscuit Café at Stonecrest Shopping Center.  Some of the student athletes currently being honored are: Peter Amos, Amber Leiker, Jordan Berry, brother and sister, Chip and Casey Van Tassel, and brother’s, Thomas and Matthew Santoli. 

To earn a place on the USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team, the student/athletes: 
     1.  Must have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
     2.  Must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.  Athletes are required to submit official transcripts from their high schools, and only academic subjects are taken into account in determining the GPA.
     3. Must be a USA Swimming member athlete.
     4. Must have participated in an individual event, in the appropriate year, in:
                2006 Disability Championships
                2006 Open Water National Championships
                2006 Speedo Champions Series (summer sectionals)
                2006 Conoco Phillips National Swimming Championships
                2006 Junior Swimming Championships
                2006 US Open Swimming Championships
                2007 Speedo Champions Series (spring sectionals)
                2007 Spring Championships

Three certificates are awarded to each individual achieving SAA status (one for the athlete, one for the school and one for the USA Swimming Club).  In addition, a special pin is given to each individual earning a 4.0 GPA, and a special award to each individual named to the Scholastic All American team three times.  Outstanding Achiever recognition is given to each individual who places first at the National Championships and maintains a 4.0 GPA.

Says Peter Amos, a first time SAA winner, “As any swimmer might tell you, swimming teaches you a great deal about time management. What our peers are expected to accomplish in about 7 hours a night, we are expected to do it in about 3.  Given our commitment to both school and swimming, we have no choice but to become as efficient as possible.  MAC is one of the top clubs in the nation; its list of accomplishments is infinitely large, including members of the Olympic team, world record holders, and national champions. It’s no wonder, given the commitment required of the athletes. At MAC, all the athletes work very hard, and this creates an atmosphere of excellence.  Training there is not for the faint of heart; one must have courage, self-discipline, perseverance, integrity, and a desire to always be the best they can be.”

Says Amber Leiker, "The amount of dedication that swimming requires teaches you time management, hard work, and the importance of being the best you can possibly be, which automatically carries over into your academic career.  My experience with MAC has helped me find a balance between swimming and school and it has also afforded me opportunities that I would not be able to find anywhere else."

Chip Van Tassell, three-time SAA winner and current Wharton School of Business (at UPenn) student says, “The recruitment process is a liberty that successful swimmers (MAC) take for granted. Many people don’t choose college based on what fits them best; rather, they go to the best school they get into. I was fortunate enough to have a choice between five of some of the best schools in the nation.”

He adds, “The MAC style of training is very forward which translates well to college and learning to limit distractions. You have to have a sense of competition and a motivation to help you strive for a goal, much like swimming. Swimming at MAC taught me all of these things long before coming to this school, and I started the year well ahead of the rest of my classmates.”

Second time winner, Casey Van Tassell, says, “Sometimes people assume that because we spend a majority of our time outside of school in the pool, our grades would suffer. To the contrary, I think that swimming at MAC has helped me academically because I've had to juggle practice and school work for such a long time, but keeping my sense of achievement high.  I've learned so much about team work, goals, and giving 100% effort.  I recently signed a National Letter of Intent to swim at Davidson College next year which I picked because the atmosphere and the people there are so well rounded and enthusiastic.  I love how they make working hard fun.”

For 30 years, MAC (Mecklenburg Aquatic Club) has been serving the Charlotte metro area by providing an environment of excellence in sports.  As a USA Swimming “Gold Medal” club, MAC has developed two Olympians, seven National Champions, and 90 Senior National Qualifiers and won 47 NC State Championships.  Involvement in community service programs includes Red Cross Training, The Victory Junction Gang and the Susan G. Komen 5K Run. “MAC’s tradition as the nation's number one Scholastic All American program is among our most cherished accomplishments and one that I’m proud to help lead into the future,” says David Marsh, Head Coach of MAC and Team Elite, MAC Olympic Prep Group.   Coach Marsh joined MAC last April after serving as Head Coach at Auburn University for 16 years where he won 12 NCAA Team Titles, placed 22 swimmers on Olympic Teams, coached seven swimmers to Olympic medals, and was named NCAA National Coach of the year eight times. 

“We are very lucky to have such talent on our team, from the athletes and their families to the coaches and the support team that is what truly sets us apart from other swim clubs and makes MAC more than embody the Center of Excellence” says Jeff Gaeckle, President of MAC.   Since being designated the nation’s first USA Swimming Center of Excellence by USA Swimming and the United States Olympic Committee, Charlotte-based MAC has attracted many of the nation’s top competitive swimmers, several of whom will contend for the 2008 US Olympic Squad.

MAC’s Team Elite members are invited by Coach Marsh to live and train in Charlotte, with a goal of winning Olympic gold.  Margaret Hoelzer, current World Champion 200 meter backstroke, Mark Gangloff and Carly Piper, both Gold Medalists from the 2004 Athens Olympics, are a few of its current members. 

Jeff Gaeckle adds, “Being part of MAC here in Charlotte is about investment.  An investment in a MAC team is not only an investment in an athlete, but an investment in the success in the future growth of our community.  We invest our time and energy in our team and it pays off for everyone including establishing new models and mentors for our community of children and young adults, future leaders of tomorrow. Not only does Charlotte have the premier swimming training, but for an athlete, it provides them with the opportunity to put down roots both socially and professionally.  This is something college towns can’t offer but Charlotte can.  So our plan for the Center of Excellence really is all about the future of the Charlotte community as a whole.”

 “Swimming is one of the best sports, not only because of the total fitness component, but the skills developed through proper time management, goal setting, and motivation. It's good to know that when the college recruiters come to Charlotte they will be recruiting true student athletes,” says David Marsh.  He adds, “Aside from health, fitness and academic achievements, swimming has many other benefits including safety, improved social skills, discipline, focus, community leadership and personal and professional success. You don’t have to be a competitive athlete to enjoy the benefits of swimming.”