Hickory, N.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Paul Schiffel will be inducted into the Catawba County Sports Hall Of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.
Joining Schiffel as part of this year’s class includes Christi Cranford (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1991), Kevin Wilson, Ernie Warlick, Charles J. Bost (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1947) and Randy Lowman (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1976).
The six new inductees will be celebrated during the annual Hickory Sports Commission Hall Of Fame Banquet on Monday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m., at the city of Hickory’s Highland Recreation Center.
Schiffel has been Lenoir-Rhyne’s Director of Swimming and Head Coach since each program’s inception: the women’s squad in 2007-08 and the men’s team in 2010-11.
“I am very excited and honored to receive this recognition. I have to credit all of my CVAC (Catawba Valley Aquatic Center) swimmers, Lenoir-Rhyne and parents from both groups for their hard work and support through the years,” said Schiffel. “It has been a wonderful ride for me. I have always enjoyed "Sharing the dreams of children" in the great sport of swimming. I hope to have many more years left to coach in the Hickory community.”
During his tenure as Bears’ mentor, Schiffel has coached four All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference honorees and the program's first-ever NCAA Division II All-American in Chelsea Kyle in 2012 (women's 200-yard butterfly).
Schiffel is the current Owner and Coach of the Catawba Valley Aquatics Club, a program he started in 1989, after leading Hickory Seahorse Swim Team (1978-84 and 1986-89). In addition, Schiffel was the Head Coach when St. Stephens High School Men’s and Women’s Swimming programs began in 1992 and led the Indians to seven straight conference championships (1995-01) over his 15-year tenure.
In addition, Schiffel led the Indians to two NCHSAA Western Regional Championships (1999-00) and a state runner-up finish on the men’s side (2006) and the 2001 women’s regional title.
Schiffel twice served as the president of the N.C. Chapter of the American Swimming Coaches Association and was instrumental in starting high school programs at Fred T. Foard, Bandys and Maiden High Schools. In 1992, he was selected to serve the U.S. Information Agency in Burundi, Africa, as a sports consultant for developing a national aquatics program.
Schiffel graduated from East Carolina University in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and earned his master’s degree in education from in 1981 from ECU as well.
Schiffel, a member of the East Carolina Men’s Swimming Team, earned Team MVP honors as a junior and served as an assistant coach for the Pirates from 1975 to 1978.
Established in 2000, the Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame recognizes the extraordinary efforts and achievements of athletes, coaches, teams and contributors, while also reinforcing a sense of history and tradition in Catawba County.
North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame member and long-time NCHSAA media liaison Rick Strunk will deliver the keynote address at this year’s banquet.
In addition to an induction ceremony, the annual Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame banquet salutes Student Athletes of the Year from the public and private high schools throughout Catawba County.
Area high school athletic directors or school representatives selected a male and a female finalist from each school, and the winners will be announced during the banquet. Most of the student athletes who will be recognized participate in multiple sports, and some are at the top of their class.
