NEW COACH ON DECK - PIETER RITZ
A native of Fort Myers, Fla., Pieter Ritz was member of the Gulf Coast Swim Team for 16 years. He also swam for the Florida Zone Team in 2006. During his prep swimming years, he was a district champion in 2005, was a three-time regional finalist, and was a state finalist in 2006 and 2007.
Pieter Ritz swam collegiately for four years at Division I Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Cleveland State, he was a finalist at the Horizon League Championships all four years. In 2009, he reached the podium at the conference championships with a 7th place finish in the 1000 freestyle and an 8th place finish in the 1650 freestyle. He also reached the conference podium in 2012 with an 8th place finish in the 1650 freestyle. Along with his accomplishments in the pool, he was also named to the Dean’s List three years at CSU, and in 2012 received the Men's Swimming and Diving Leadership Award.
Pieter is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration at Henderson State, while working with the Henderson State Swimming and Diving Team as the Graduate Assistant Coach. In his first year at the position, he guided the women's team to a 2nd place finish and the men's team a 3rd place finish at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference meet in Cleveland, Mississippi. From there, he also was a part of the group that went to the 2013 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, where the men finished 20th and the women finished 35th.
