In a cermony held over the weekend, former North Baltimore Aquatic Club swimmer Courtney Kalisz was one of four who were inducted into the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore.
The Hall of Fame, which does not necessarily induct new members on a regular cycle, named three two its latest class: one athlete, Kalisz; one coach, Russell Williams; and two officials: James Pusateri and John Ferrari.
Kalisz’ efforts qualified her for the 2004 Olympic Trials when she was just 14-years-old. Along with 13 other NBAC swimmers including none other than Michael Phelps, Kalisz headed to the trials and competed successfully.
In the 200m fly, Kalisz finished 11th overall in the semi-finals, just out of a finals position. She was 32nd in the 400m IM and 30th in the 200m backstroke as well, all very impressive feats for such a young athlete.
In both 2004 and 2005 she was named to the National Junior Team. Kalisz excelled in 2005 where she was fifth in the 200m fly at the 2005 World Championship Trials. At the 2005 U.S Open Kalisz took home gold in the 400m IM prior to winning the 200m fly at the 2006 Spring Nationals.
Kalisz was selected to the 2006 Junior Pan Pacs Team. There, she earned a silver in the 200m fly and a bronze in the 400m IM.
In 2007, Kalisz entered her first major senior international competition, taking home the silver medal in the 200m fly at the Pan Am Games.
After graduating high school at Fallston High, Kalisz competed at the Olympic Trials once again reaching the semi-final round in the 200m butterfly with an 11th place finish.
After trials, her focus turned towards competing collegiately, and she signed with the USC Trojans. There, Kalisz competed successfully for a while before ultimately succumbing to a serious ankle injury that ended her career.
Courtney Kalisz is the older sister to 2016 Olympic hopeful Chase Kalisz, as well as the younger Connor Kalisz.
The late Pusateri was the chair of Maryland Siwmming Inc. and the Officials Committee of Maryland Swimming. Pusateri had a long history of officiating swimming.
Ferrari was Maryland Swimming’s officials chair and general chair. Williams co-founded the Baltimore City Swim Club, bringing swimming lessons to the African-American community in Baltimore and the Baltimore area.
Don’t forget that Courtney also has a younger sister who swims. Cassie qualified for OTs in the 200 back last summer when she was still 15. She was untapered and unshaved when she qualified. Pretty impressive family!
With so many great swimmers in the area I bet the Univ. of Maryland has great swim teams!
Sadly the University of MD College Park has an amzing facility but cut the program a few years ago.