Kyle Ficker

Position:
Sprint Freestyle
Height:
6-4
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Fort Myers, Fla.
High School:
Bishop Verot

Career Best Times: 19.72 in 50-yard freestyle; 43.97 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:40.01 in 200-yard freestyle.

2011-12: Had breakthrough sophomore campaign...earned All-ACC honors in the 50 freestyle as well as NCAA honorable mention All-America accolades as member of 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 200 medley relay...won the squad's Richard E. Jamerson Award as the Most Improved Swimmer...selected for ACC Academic Honor Roll...at the Virginia Tech Invitational in early February, he took first-place finishes a set pool records in the 50-yard freestyle (20.02) and 100-yard freestyle (44.77) while finishing third in the 200 free at 1:40.57...two weeks after that meet, an illness led to a spot opening up on UNC's ACC Championships squad and Ficker was a last minute replacement on the scoring team...it would be an understatement to say he made the most of the opportunity...he placed second in the 50 free at 19.72 and 10th in the 100 free at 43.97, both career bests...at the ACC meet he swam on 200 and 400 freestyle relays which finished third and second, respectively...qualified for the NCAA Championships and swam on three relays which scored points - the 200 free relay which placed 13th, the 400 free relay which took 14th and the 200 medley relay which placed 15th...at the Nike Cup Championships he swam on four scoring relays, including the first-place 200 free relay which set a pool record and a fourth-place 400 free relay...in dual meets, swam on winning 400 free relay versus Georgia Tech and on victorious 200 free relay at Virginia Tech which established a pool record time.

2010-11: Won the 50 freestyle in the dual meet win over Duke in a career best 20.41...won three events at the College Cup Invitational, winning the 50 free in 20.90, the 100 free in 45.74 and the 200 free in 1:41.80.

Prep: Graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Ft. Myers, Fla., on May 23, 2010...also attended Canterbury High School...was coached in high school by Jim Quinn and in club swimming by Mac Kennedy at Swim Florida...swam from 2007-09 in high school, specializing in 50 and 100 freestyles...served as team captain and won MVP as senior...won three regional titles, two in the 50 free and one in the 100 free...swam on 200 and 400 free relays which finished fourth at state meet....swam on 400 free relay which earned All-America status...led team to regional title in 2008 and district titles in 2007 & 2008...National Merit Commended student...Academic Scholar sophomore through senior years...member of National Honor Society...was a volunteer Young Life leader at Trinity H.S.

Personal: Full name is Kyle Christopher Ficker...son of Tim and Claire Ficker...his father was a lacrosse player at Denison University...was born August 21, 1991 in West Chester, Pa. ... has two sisters...stands 6-5 tall...economics major...a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council at Carolina.

20 Questions With Junior Kyle Ficker

Section #1: Swimming & Diving

1. The best thing about being a Tar Heel swimmer is the brotherhood.

2. My favorite thing about competing for Coach DeSelm is the rare times I see Rich get goofy.

3. Since last year the aspects of my training I've worked on the most is power and stroke efficiency.

4. My best friend on another college swimming team is Robert Swanbeck at Florida State.

5. My greatest strengths as a swimmer is my surfboard-shaped body.

Section #2: Hobbies & Interests

1. Away from the pool and academic pursuits I like to spend time hanging out with friends.

2. The best movie I've seen recently is The Avengers.

3. If I could compete in another sport at UNC it would be ping-pong.

4. The music act I'd most like to see in person is Vienna Orchestra.