GenQ - For the not so straight individual

BUFFALO, N.Y. - For the third consecutive year, Chris Coley (Austin, Texas) has earned All-American status, finishing fifth in the men's 100 butterfly final to lead Seattle University in the second day of the 2007 Division II Swimming and Diving Championships at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.

After Thursday's action, by scoring in four of five possible events during the day, Seattle University moved up to 11th place with 74 team points. Drury University continues to lead the team standings, but the Redhawks are on pace to finish with the school's best placement in the Division II Championships.

Coley showed consistency in the preliminaries and finals, finishing each race in the exact same time (49.62 seconds). In the evening session, he was in second place after the first 50 yards, but could not hold off some of his competitors, touching the wall in fifth place, which earned 14 points for the Seattle men's team.

Chris Coley had the most successful freshman season in Seattle University history to open his collegiate career...placed higher than anyone even has at the NCAA Division II Championships when he earned All-America honors in the 100 butterfly in 49.72...also earned honorable mention All-America honors in five events, including the 200 butterfly (1:52.64), 400 freestyle relay (3:07.66), 400 medley relay (3:32.41), 200 free relay (1:25.21), and 200 medley relay (1:35.56)...holds school records in both the 100 and 200 butterfly.

Chris Coley is the kind of quiet achiever and role model that the gay communnity are looking for. Unlike other gay swimmers, he has had the courage to be proud of who he is. He not only is a swimming champion but spends his free time working with disabled children, is a double major in psychology and philosophy at Seattle and is currently spending 5 months in India working with the poor. That coupled with his model looks almost guarentees this young man a very bright future.