Goettler joining Bonnies
BUTLER TWP — After biding his time, Matt Goettler’s arrival at St. Bonaventure University will be well-timed.
The Butler graduate spent the past year at Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio, improving his athletic skills while swimming with the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins.
A former MVP and co-captain of the Butler High swim team, Goettler has also been to Junior Nationals in Austin, Texas, and Knoxville, Tenn.
“My goal was to swim for a Division I college program, but I didn’t feel I was at that level coming out of high school,” Goettler said. “I needed a little more time and Spire gave that to me.”
After receiving no Division I offers as a high school senior in 2012, Goettler recently turned down an offer from Penn State to join the St. Bonaventure program.
“I like the smaller school atmosphere and they’ve been successful there,” Goettler said.
Sean McNamee has been head swim coach at St. Bonaventure for 20 years. His teams have not finished worse than second in the Atlantic 10 Tournament since 1999.
McNamee has won four Atlantic 10 championships — including this year — but has never won two in a row.
“We’re hoping Matt helps us win consecutive league titles for the first time,” McNamee said. “With the versatility he offers, he should make an immediate impact on our program.
“His time in the 100 breast is among the top five in our conference right now.”
Goettler said his best events are the 200 breast and 200 individual medley. But his talents extend farther than both.
“You get a lot of breast stroke swimmers and that’s all they can do,” McNamee said.”Matt offers the I.M., he’s good in the 100 butterfly ... Versatility means everything in collegiate swimming.”
St. Bonaventure won the Atlantic 10 title this year with only four seniors on its roster. The Bonnies have produced more than 40 individual conference champions and 32 relay championships under McNamee, a four-time conference coach of the year.
“It’s a successful program and a young team,” Goettler said. “The recruiting class coming in with me, I understand, is one of the best they’ve ever had.”
That fact has McNamee anxious to get the 2013-14 season rolling.
“No doubt, I’d like to fast-forward things and get started,” the coach said. “Expectations are going to be high and rightfully so.
“Matt has made himself more marketable and well-rounded through Spire. His coach was Jim Bocci, a friend of mine, and that’s how I got on to him.”
Goettler has been swimming with the Fox Chapel Killer Whales the past three summers. He has used summer swimming this year to prepare for his freshman college season.
“I just keep training,” he said. “I have to work hard to improve because I know I’m not there yet.”
Goettler plans to pursue a business major at St. Bonaventure.
He also plans on helping the Bonnies in the water right away.
“I’ll do anything I can to help the team repeat as champion,” he said of the conference meet. “Hopefully, we’ll get to the NCAA’s and I can find some individual success somewhere down the road.”
