Brad Algiere was the first national champion in the Findlay swimming program, winning the 200-yard butterfly in 1996 and again in 1997 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships.
Algiere earned NAIA All-American honors on 19 occasions, including 13 top five finishes, and his name still appears in the Findlay swimming archive as a member of the record holding teams in the 400-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay. At one time, Algiere was also the UF record holder in the 500-yard freestyle as well as both the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly.
While swimming competitively, Algiere was inhibited by poor eyesight. During his first national championship experience, while swimming in the 200-yard butterfly finals, Algiere finished the race strongly but was unable to read the distant scoreboard. The two young ladies keeping time behind the starting block were puzzled that Algiere was not celebrating and informed him that he had won the event and Findlay’s first national championship in swimming.
The decorated Findlay swimmer offers the observation, “Sports foster dedication and discipline that can be used for the remainder of your life.” Algiere has practiced this philosophy while currently serving as the Director of Management Accounting for DPT Labs. Algiere and his wife 14 years, Stephanie, live in San Antonio, Texas with daughters Kristi and Samantha.
