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Feature story on Christian Erard on the NCAASports.com web site.
CAREER: Concluded his WSU career as the school record-holder in the 500 Freestyle (4:33.35), the 1000 Freestyle (9:21.77), the 1650 Freestyle (15:42.07), and is a member of five record-holding relays ... a seven-time First Team All-American (1650 all four years; 1000 in 2003 and 2004; and 500 in 2005) and a 15-time All-America honorable mention recipient, giving him a total of 22 which is the most in any sport in WSU history ... three-time GLIAC champion in the 1000 Freestyle (2002, '03, '04) and two-time GLIAC champion in the 1650 (2003, '04).
2004-05: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: A pair of sixth-place finishes in the 500 Freestyle and 1650 Freestyle (15:43.78) earned him First Team All-America honors ... lowered his WSU varsity record in the 500 free to 4:33.35 ... a five-time All-America honorable mention recipient, placing ninth in the 1000 Free (9:31.75) and 13th in the 400 IM (4:05.05); and three relays: the 400 Free (15th place) and the 400 Medley (14th place) and as a member of the 11th-place 800 Free Relay team with David Lutz, Jared Troyer and Bruno Blanco that set a varsity record (6:51.77) ... GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS: Placed second in the 1000 Freestyle behind teammate Nick Ingrao with a time of 9:31.25 ... finished second in both the 500 free (4:38.37) and 1650 free (15:56.05) ... was a member of the second-place 400 medley relay team (3:29.75), the third-place 800 free relay team (6:57.89) and the sixth-place 200 free relay team (1:27.95) ... swam on the third-place 400 free relay team with David Lutz, Bruno Blanco and Nick Markou to set a new WSU varsity record (3:08.69).
2003-04: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Earned a total of seven All-America honors, two first-team honors in individual events and five honorable mentions (2 individuals, 3 relays) ... finished fourth in both the 1000 Freestyle (9:22.75) and the 1650 Free (15:46.09) ... placed 13th in the 400 IM (4:05.71) and 14th in the 500 Free (4:38.83) ... competed on three relays, which placed 10th in the 400 medley, 14th in the 800 free and 14th in the 200 medley ... GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS Two-time individual event champion ... broke his own GLIAC Championship record in the 1000 Freestyle (9:30.10) and won the 1650 Free in a NCAA A-qualifying time of 15:52.71 ... placed second in the 500 Free (4:39.33) ... a member of the championship-winning 400 medley relay team ... helped 800 free relay to a second-place finish and the 400 free relay to a third-place finish.
2002-03: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Earned First Team All-America honors by placing fifth in the 1000 Freestyle with a WSU varsity record time of 9:21.77 ... earned All-America honorable mention in the 400 IM (4:07.17), placing 15th ... GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS: Set a new conference record in the 1000 free (9:31.81) to defend his title ... placed third in the 500 free (4:37.72) ... a member of the second-place 400 medley relay team and fourth-place 400 free relay team.
2001-02: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Finished fifth in the 1650 freestyle, setting a school record of 15:42.07 .... earned three honorable mention All-America accolades in the 400 IM, 500 free, and 1000 free, setting school records in all three events ... GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS: Finished fourth in individual scoring with 41 points and was the 1000 Freestyle event champion in a time of 9:38.69 ... placed third in the 400 IM and second in the 1650 freestyle.
High School: Lettered in swimming freshman through junior seasons at University of Detroit Jesuit High School ... earned all-league honors for the Cubs ... also a high school Honor Roll student.
Personal: Full name--Christian Robert Erard ... born December 1, 1982, in Southfield ... son of Patrick and GeAnne Geraghty, and Dennis Erard ... his younger brother, A.J., also swims for WSU ... also played summer baseball competively and has been swimming since the age of four ... named to the Coach's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) for Fall 2003, Winter 2004 and Fall 2004 ... graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in history and is currently pursuing a master's in communications.
