WTSC Swimposium Night- Wed, April 30th

WTSC Swimposium ~ featuring American Hero & Motivational Speaker Brad Snyder

 Please join us for WTSC Swimposium Night April 30th at NCHS. Itinerary for the night includes:

5:00PM- Dinner in NC Cafeteria

5:30PM- Motivational Presentation by Brad Snyder

6:15PM- Swimmers depart with their group coaches/Parents stay for Annual meeting

6:45PM- Swimmers return for Time Drop Ceremony

More details:

  • RSVP, for both swimmers and parents, REQUIRED. Note no standard practice will be held this evening. Parents, please indicate the number attending, including your swimmer(s), in the comment box of our usual sign in process.
  • What is the annual meeting?? Every April WTSC elects a new slate of candidates to the BOD. Please contact Club President Leigh Purcell if you are interested in serving on the WTSC BOD.
  • What is the Time Drop Ceremony? One of WTSC's traditions, we calculate the TOTAL time dropped in all events for each swimmer for the past year.

Brad Snyder began his professional career as a newly commissioned Ensign in the US Navy, having graduated from the US Naval Academy with a degree in Naval Architecture. Through his distinction as the swim team captain during his final year, he earned an assignment to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer training pipeline.  After completing Navy Dive School, EOD School, and the Army's Airborne school, Brad moved to Charleston, SC for his first assignment. 

From Charleston Brad deployed to Iraq in the Fall of 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Upon his return in the Spring he was re-assigned to a new unit in Virginia Beach, VA.  Brad deployed again in the Spring of 2011, this time to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  After six months of assault operations, Brad was severely injured when he functioned an improvised explosive device (IED) that was buried in the ground.

Brad sustained complete vision loss as a result of his injury, but did not suffer any other lasting wounds.  As a part of his rehabilitation process Brad returned to the pool, and after a few short months of training was able to earn a spot on the US Paralympic National Team for swimming.  At the 2012 Paralympics he competed in seven events, earning two Gold Medals, and one Silver Medal.  His victory in the 400 meter freestyle occurred on the 7th of September, 2012, which marked exactly one year from the day he suffered his vision loss.

Brad medically retired from Naval Service in the Fall of 2013.  He currently resides in Baltimore, MD where he is pursuing a career in leadership and professional development, aiming to translate the lessons he has learned on both the fields of battle and competition to willing audiences in the US and abroad.  Concurrently, he volunteers for the COMMIT foundation, a non-profit whose charter aims to foster mentorship opportunities and serendipity for veterans as they transition into new roles within the community.

Brad is training hard and swimming fast with the dream of representing Team USA again in the 2016 Paralympics!