Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thurs., Aug. 6, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Swimming & Diving

Blue Devils at summer camp with Olympians

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- For the fifth straight year, Fredonia State swimming & diving coach Arthur Wang served as head counselor at the University of Texas’s star-studded summer camp.

This summer, he and formers Blue Devil swimmer Brian Ruffles of Angola and Cassie Austin of Cuba worked closely with several athletes bound for the summer Olympics in Beijing.

When opportunities arose, Wang and Ruffles assisted Olympic swim coach Eddie Reese during practice sessions for several U.S. Olympic Trial participants. Three members of the group qualified for the 2008 Games: Eric Shanteau, Garret Weber-Gale, and Scott Spann.

In addition, former world record-holder Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe trained at the University of Texas and was a prominent camp contributor.

“The Olympians,” Wang said, “are an integral part of the camp. As head counselor, I am a liason to getting them situated in their presentations to camp to over 170 swimmers per week. I’m also responsible for organizing their autograph sessions.”

Photo above: Brendan Hansen (world record-holder in the 100 breast stroke), Fredonia State head coach Arthur Wang, Ian Crocker (world record-holder in the 100 butterfly), Aaron Piersol (world record-holder in the 100 & 200 backstroke), former Fredonia State swimmer Brian Ruffles, and former U.S. Olympian Neil Walker at the University of Texas this summer.

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