“I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina in a family of basketball players. My dad played at UNC under legendary coach Dean Smith, and my brother played at Valparaiso. As a kid, I dreamed of being a professional athlete. When cut from the 7th grade I was cut from the basketball team, the heartache pushed me to pour that ambition into the sport of swimming.

Unlike many athletes, I was a late bloomer and I didn't see much success in the sport until the end of my junior year in high school. I graduated high school at 6”5” and 155 lbs. I was fortunate to receive a small scholarship to the University of Missouri. At Mizzou, I became the most decorated swimmer in the program’s history. During my time there I helped lead the team to its first two top-10 finishes and ended my collegiate career as a 22x All-American. Before moving to Charlotte, I was able to swim at UNC professionally and represent the Tar Heels on the international stage.

During my professional swimming career, I was a member of the USA National Team for 6 years. With Team USA, I became a 7x World Champion, 2x World Record Holder, and 5x Pan American Game Medalist. Today, I work as a student and young adults pastor at Moments of Hope Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Most importantly, I get to share life with my wonderful bride Cassi and my two sons, Grayson and Ellis. I’ve always seen swimming as a pathway to impact people’s lives. With True Potential, I hope to share the same encouragement and love for the sport of swimming to the next generation of athletes.”