Zach Adams

Swimming his way to success at both the high school and collegiate level, Zach Adams won a state championship with Kokomo High School and went on to set records in the pool at Purdue University.

A 1984 KHS graduate, Adams won the IHSAA swimming state championship in the 100-yard butterfly as a senior, taking the title with a time of 50.95.

On a swimming scholarship at Purdue, Adams swam four years with the Boilers. As a senior, he set a school record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 49.12, a mark that stood for more than a decade from 1988 until 2001.

Also while at Purdue, Adams placed fourth in the Big Ten Championships in the 100-yard butterfly, and was on a 400-yard medley relay team that finished third place, qualifying for the NCAA national championships and placing 14th.

Under KHS Hall of Fame coach Bob Croll, Adams began swimming as a sophomore. As a junior, he placed ninth in the state meet in the 100-yard butterfly.

As a senior, in addition to winning the state title, Adams also placed fifth in the 200-yard IM and was on the 2nd place 200-yard Medley Relay team. He also swam in the YMCA Nationals Championship, placing 2nd in the 100-yard butterfly. He was All-North Central Conference in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard medley relay. He received Most Improved and MVP awards and was named All-American by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches of America.