MONTGOMERY, Ohio — Sycamore senior Jake Foster was named this week as the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Senior Boys’ Swimming Athlete of the Year.
Foster, a University of Texas signee, won four individual Division I state titles in Canton this past February including the 200-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
Foster set state records, state meet records and pool records during the meet. He also won state titles in the 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay where he teamed up with his brother, junior standout Carson Foster.
The brothers won eight gold medals and shared the meet’s Outstanding Swimmer Award.
Foster, who will attend the University of Texas on a scholarship, is a member of the USA Junior National team.
Last summer, as part of the Mason Manta Rays swim team, he competed in the USA Swimming Phillips 66 Junior National Championships in Irvine, Calif., and earned the right to be a member of Team USA competing in the Junior Pan Pacific Games in Fiji, where he brought home a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley. Foster is also a Scholastic All-American, according to a release.
“Jake is an excellent example what this award stands for,” said Eric Hess, Executive Director of the NHSCA. “He has excelled as much in the classroom as he has on the court. We congratulate Jake on an outstanding high school career and wish him success at the University of Texas.”
Foster is the second Ohio student-athlete to win the NHSCA Senior Boys’ Swimming Athlete of the Year Award. Austin Staab of Westerville High School won the award in 2007.
This marks the 20th consecutive year the NHSCA has honored achievers within the high school athletic community nationwide.
Each of the honorees will receive a plaque. In addition, the Athlete of the Year honoree will be displayed in the National High School Digital Sports Hall of Fame that is currently under development, according to a release.
The NHSCA is a non-profit organization with a mission statement to provide leadership and support to high school athletes and coaches. The NHSCA selects the National Coach and Athlete of the Year in 20 boys’ and girls’ sports that will be featured in the National High School Digital Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will serve as a home for all of the 20,000 high schools in America to honor their outstanding coaches, athletes and administrators.
