Lake Orion High School senior Garrett Ruhland has been swimming since he was just six years old.
‘Swimming is a lifelong thing,? Ruhland said.
And along Ruhland’s road of life, swimming will help him secure a college education.
He recently became just the second Dragon swimmer in team history to sign a national letter of intent with a Division I-A swimming program.
He’s looking forward to spending his next four years at Michigan State University.
‘It’s been my dream for a long time,? he said.
A state finalist in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Ruhland’s performances brought him All-American honorable mention recognition.
‘Garrett is one of the fastest swimmers that I have coached,? said LOHS boys swimming coach Paul Fairman.
‘It is great that he is moving to the next level.?
After a strong junior season, the calls from recruiters started coming in bunches.
Ruhland eventually chose MSU from a short list that included the Naval Academy.
He is particularly familiar with MSU after attending Spartan swimming camps.
‘Garrett is very athletic and he has such a great attitude,? head swimming and diving coach Matt Gianiodis said.
‘Our relationship started at camp and he is a big Spartan fan. He is going to really improve, and he fits the mold of those who have done very well here at MSU.?
Ruhland attended the MSU camp for two years, and establishing a relationship with the coaching staff was one of the things that separated MSU from the other schools interested in him.
‘I did that mostly just to meet the coach,? Ruhland said of his camp experience.
He also enjoyed his official visit to MSU, mentioning both the campus and the team dynamic he observed as strong influences on his decision.
Ruhland joins many others from around the state to sign with MSU, forming one of the program’s top recruiting classes in recent memory.
‘They really have a big class this year,? Ruhland said, noting that the program was going to lose some valuable seniors to graduation.
Ruhland said he knows most of the other recruits and has even gone head to head with a couple of them.
Although he’s looking forward to becoming just the fifth Dragon to swim in the collegiate ranks, Ruhland said there’s unfinished business left to do at LOHS.
‘We really want to get in the top three in the state as a team,? he said.
The team finished fifth in the state meet last year.
On an individual level, Ruhland is hoping to set new personal best times in both the 50 and 100 freestyle.
‘I’m right where I was at the end of last year,? Ruhland said of his current times in both events.
He is already the school’s record holder in both events.
‘Athletes like Garrett and our other top swimmers have created an atmosphere that attracts kids to our program,? Fairman said.
‘It also gets them to set their sights on higher achievements.?