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Roger M. Vredeveld '79

Inducted 2007

Since 1973 Roger's name has been linked with Baylor's outstanding swimming and diving program. As a junior Roger earned All-American honors and won state championships in the 200 yard Individual Medley, the 100 yard Backstroke, and the 400 yard Freestyle Relay. In his senior year Roger again earned All-American honors in the same three events and added an Honorable Mention All-American honor in the 100 yard Freestyle. The 400 Freestyle Relay team in 1979 set the national age group record, and they still hold the school record today.

That same year, the Aquaraiders, whom Roger captained for four years, took second place in the Eastern Prep School Swimming and Diving Championships and were ranked second in the nation by Swimming World magazine. Roger also lettered for three years in water polo, then a varsity sport at Baylor.

Roger was equally impressive on land as a Cum Laude Society member, yearbook contributor, Baylor Notes writer, and Honor Council clerk. He received both the Art Award and the Scholar-Athlete Award in his senior year.

Roger received an athletic scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where, in 1980, he was Atlantic Coast Conference champion and set the conference record in the 200 yard Individual Medley.

After serving as assistant coach for UNC during the 1983-84 season, Roger returned to Baylor to teach social studies and English, and he is a history instructor at the time of his induction. Roger was the Aquaraiders' head coach from 1984-89 and assistant coach from 1989-94. In that ten-year span, Baylor boys won the Tennessee State Swimming and Diving Championship nine times, and the newly-established girls' program won four state titles.

Roger was an unflagging booster for the construction of Baylor's Aquatic Center, completed in 2004. He and his wife, Sandy, are parents of Baylor grads, Nathan and Kristen.

Roger M. Vredeveld '79

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