Miner Sports News

• Two swimmers sign with Missouri S&T for 2009-10 season
  published on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:27:52 -0600

  Missouri S&T swimming coach Doug Grooms has announced that two individuals have signed national letters of intent to compete for the Miners in the 2009-10 season.

   

  The two individuals joining the Miner program are Andrew Simek, a two-time state champion at Fort Zumwalt West High School and Matt Welsh, an all-state performer at Lafayette High School in the St. Louis area.

   

  ANDREW SIMEK, from Fort Zumwalt West High School in O'Fallon, Mo.: Simek was the Missouri state champion for 2008 in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard breaststroke, with times of 50.48 in the butterfly and 56.41 in the breaststroke that were the best marks in the St. Louis area during the season in those events. As a junior, Simek was a first-team all-metro selection in the St. Louis area after finishing second in the 100-butterfly and fourth in the 100-breaststroke; he was a second-team all-metro pick after his sophomore year.  Simek has also competed at the junior nationals and holds conference and school records in three events.

   

  "Andrew had a great state meet and capped off a fantastic senior year with his championship swims in the 100-fly and 100-breast," Grooms said. "He will make an immediate impact on our program next season as a freshman."

   

  MATT WELSH, from Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Mo.: Welsh, an all-state performer, was the Suburban West Conference champion in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events in the recently completed 2008 season and also won the 500-yard freestyle in the league meet in 2007.  He finished 11^th in the 200-yard freestyle at the Missouri State Championships in a time of 1:46.83 - his best time of the season in that event -- and also competed in the 500-freestyle at the state meet.  Welsh also had top times of 58.38 in the 100-yard backstroke, 48.63 in the 100-yard freestyle, 4:49.40 in the 500-freestyle and 2:05.82 in the 200-individual medley during the 2008 season and also competed in the freestyle relays.

   

  "Matt has a bright future ahead in collegiate swimming with the Miners," Grooms said. "He will physically mature and develop with our strength and training program over the next four years.

   

  "Both of these young men come to us from the Rockwood Swim Club which prepares athletes to achieve their greatest success at the college level," Grooms added. "I am looking forward to working with these guys over the next four years to help them reach their potential in the pool."

   

  Missouri S&T finished second at the 2008 NCAA Division II Championships and fourth in the 2007 national meet.