Mars senior swimmer Chris Georgiadis will continue his academic and swimming career at Ashland University and Ohio.

ADAMS TWP — Chris Georgiadis had no idea where he would end up swimming in college.

That is, until he visited Ashland (Ohio) University.

The Mars senior received interest from many schools — St. Bonaventure, Miami University, George Mason, Queens University and Florida Southern among them.

“I visited Ashland in September and really didn't know what to expect,” said Georgiadis. “I met some of the guys on the team and fell in love with the place.

“I wouldn't have felt as at home anywhere else.”

Last month, Georgiadis signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic career at the Division II school, located in North Central Ohio.

“It was a huge weight off my shoulders to get this done before the (high school) season started,” he said. “I'm really excited about this year.”

Ashland is led by veteran coach Paul Graham. The Eagles compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Georgiadis is off to a good start this season, winning the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly in a meet against Hopewell on Monday.

Georgiadis, who plans to major in business, has been swimming competitively since he was five years old. He began competing in youth triathlons when he was nine and joined the Planets' varsity boys cross country and swimming teams as a freshman.

“I ran cross country through my junior year,” he said. “My right knee started bothering me last fall (2012) and it kind of held me back in swimming last year. I decided to focus just on swimming as a senior.”

Despite not being 100 percent during his junior campaign, Georgiadis won two WPIAL Class AA titles — in the 200-yard individual medley and he was part of the Planets' 400 freestyle relay title quartet.

Georgiadis also holds four individual records at Mars: 200 IM (1:56.3), 100 butterfly (55.1), 500 freestyle (4:45.17) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.31).

But to date, his favorite swimming memory at Mars High is from March 2012 when he and four teammates scored 113 points and placed second in the state behind District 10's Fairview.

“Fairview had 13 or 14 swimmers there,” Georgiadis said. “We didn't even have any expectations as a team. For us to finish second in the state with just five swimmers, I was so proud of our team. I'll never forget that.”