Its one of the biggest decisions high school seniors have to make up to this point in their lives, but for Chase Hooley the wait – and the weight – is over.
Hooley, a seven-time State swimming qualifier for Wooster, announced recently he would be attending Malone University to continue his education and swimming career.
Its a great weight off my shoulders and I can concentrate on school now that college has been taken care of, said Hooley, who rattled off a short list of pluses in heading to Malone. The campus is close to home and its a Christian college, they have a nursing program that I am interested in and they have a swim team.
Hooley had drawn interest from several other schools, but he opted for the Canton-based school.
Malone is still a pretty new team, but there is nothing wrong with that, said Hooley. I want to see how much faster I can push my body and see where I can go.
Hooley followed in the footsteps of his older siblings, who also got full rides to attend school and acknowledged that was a critical consideration. Whitney and Kyle Hooley both attended Gardner-Webb in North Carolina to swim and they both got full rides, although Kyle took the military one, noted Hooley. Money was a big thing. Its mostly for swimming, but I also got a lot of school-aid based upon my grades and ACT scores.
Hooley will be headed into uncharted waters as he begins his career from another perspective.
Malone actually just hired new coach, he said. The old one took a position at another school, but what I hear is they got a great coach. Hes coming from Ohio University – he was the assistant coach there.
Hooley will remain in the breaststroke, although on a small squad he will swim freestyle as well.
Id like to try the 200 breaststroke, he said. (The breaststroke) is my favorite by far. I may try the IM and maybe the free, and get on a relay or two. At least thats my hope. Im looking forward to it.
For Generals coach Jeff DeHaan, it was good news on a couple fronts.
Its exciting for him, he said. Its proving what were doing at Wooster is paying off for guys getting to the next level. We give them the tools and they make it happen. Guys are here for different reasons. Were like the Statute of Liberty – we take everybody. Kids are here for social reasons, kids are here for cross training and others are here to get to State.
Chase continues that family tradition and our tradition, going back to Rick Wade, who went to Bowling Green and then to OU when BG lost its program, and then Ethan Crabtree, Kyle Hooley, Alex McCord and then Hooley again. Weve had others (swim in Division III programs) but five college money scholarships (in 14 years) is outstanding for a sport that doesnt see a lot of scholarships.
DeHaan felt Malones offer was a good one for Hooley.
They left the same deal on the table (despite the change in coaches), he said. He almost got a full ride, which is exciting. Malone is trying to build its swim program and they needed a breaststroker. Hes going to concentrate on the breast, but they arent going to waste his other strokes.
Hooley left Wooster with the 100 breast record and was a member of both the 200 and 400 free relay records. Hes also a three-time State qualifier, getting there twice in the breaststroke and once in the IM.
This past year was the first time (in Ohio history) all 24 (State) qualifiers broke one minute in the breaststroke, said DeHaan. It was too bad he had to be involved in the fastest one ever, but it was cool he was involved in the fastest one ever, 23rd place or not.
In his career, Hooley qualified for Districts the maximum 16 times, each year going two relays and two individual events. He earned All-Ohio four times, earning those honors in the two relays as a sophomore and junior, as well as earning All-America Consideration in those events as well.
