Ken Armstrong
A native of Canada, Armstrong enrolled at the University of Texas after competing for Canada in the 1976 Olympics. After two successful season with the Longhorns and another Olympic team selection in 1980, he began his coaching career. He coached the Canadian national team at the 1984 Olympics and eventually made his way back to Texas to serve as age group coach for Longhorn Aquatics. After two years coaching alongside Ron O’Brien in Boca Raton, he became head coach of the Woodlands dive team in 1989... [Full Bio, Videos & Photos]
Ian Crocker
The most famous swimmer to ever come out of the state of Maine. Crocker made his way to Texas as fast as he could to be a huge contributor on the University of Texas NCAA championship teams in ’01 and ’02, and was NCAA champion in the 100 butterfly in ‘01, ‘02, ‘03 and ’04. He also won the NCAA championship in the 100 free in’04, and was a member of five NCAA champion relays. A three-time U.S. Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008), Crocker earned three golds, one silver and one bronze... [Full Bio, Videos & Photos]
Jim Henry
Born in San Antonio, Henry grew up in Dallas and started diving at age nine. While attending Hillcrest High School, he was coached by Dave Browning, father of Olympic great Skippy Browning, and won two Texas state high school one-meter springboard titles. Throughout his four years at Indiana University, Jim was coached by the legendary Hobie Billingsley. During that time, he won four Big Ten championships, five NCAA titles and 10 AAU indoor and outdoor championships on the one- and three-meter springboards... [Full Bio, Videos & Photos]
Aaron Peirsol
One of the greatest backstrokers in swimming and Olympic history. Peirsol was the NCAA backstroke champion in 2003 and 2004 for the University of Texas before turning professional. He graduated from UT in 2006 and continued to train and coach alongside Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik until he retired from the sport in 2011. He still holds the world record in the 200 backstroke (1:51.92)... [Full Bio, Videos & Photos]
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dee Hollar
Dee Hollar served the sport she loved for more than 40 years. If you were in Texas swimming, you knew the “short lady with silver hair” standing on the deck. She started as a timer for her children’s swim team in Virginia and then, after moving to Texas in 1968, progressed to the very top of her profession as a Texas and USA Swimming official. She knew the rule book front to back. She not only ran Texas swimming meets seamlessly; she is credited for running the “classiest” swimming meets in the country... [Full Bio, Videos & Photos]
Wally Pryor Distinguished Team Award:
City of Midland
Ignoring the obvious limitations of distance, population and lack of facilities, in 1967 a handful of determined Midland parents decided to create an AAU swim team and aquatic program with no pool, no coach and 20 swimmers. COM has since produced dozens of swimmers qualified to compete at the junior national and senior national levels, a score of NCAA Division I swimmers and several who have competed in Olympic Trials. [Read More...]
