CHOW, MICHELLE

Gateway Class of 1986

Ten years after Mel Nash graduated from Gateway High School, along came a freshman named Michelle Chow, who rewrote the girl’s W.P.I.A.L. and P.I.A.A. record books.

She was the driving force that propelled the 1985 and 1986 P.I.A.A. state championship swim teams.

Here are Michelle’s remarkable records and swimming accomplishments:

1983 Freshman Year–  P.I.A.A. State Individual Champion 50 freestyle & 100 freestyle
1984 Sophomore Year–  P.I.A.A. State Individual Champion 50 freestyle & 100 freestyle (new state record)
1985 Junior Year–  P.I.A.A. State Individual Champion 50 freestyle & 100 freestyle
1986 Senior Year– P.I.A.A. State Individual Champion 50 freestyle & 100 freestyle
1983-1986–  Eight Individual State Championship Titles
1985–  P.I.A.A. State Team Champions
4 x 100 freestyle relay team champion
1986–  P.I.A.A. State Team Champions
4 x 100 freestyle relay team champion
1985-1986–  Two Team State Championships
1983-1986Total of 10 State Championships (8 individual and 2 relay)
1983-1986–  Seven time individual event W.P.I.A.L. Championship Titles
1983-1986–  Set multiple Gateway High School team records in individual and team events
1986–  Gateway High School girls swimming co-captain
1986–  Gateway High School establishes the Michelle Chow Award given to the outstanding female swimmer of the year.
1986–  Pittsburgh Post Gazette Co-Female high school athlete of the year.
1986–  Pittsburgh Athletic Academic All American Team
1983-1986–  Set the unbeatable record (and never tied) of 8 for 8 individual event State Championship Titles
1986-1991–  Full athletic scholarship to Women’s Swimming Team at Texas A & M University and coached by Mel Nash.
1988Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 50 freestyle
1987N.C.A.A. Division I Women’s All American Honorable Mention
1986U.S. Open Swimming Championship Finalist
1986-1991GTE/Texas A & M University Academic Athletic Award
1993-1998– Fifteen time #1 Swims in U.S. Masters Swimming
1993-1998– Fifty-one U.S. Master Swimming top ten finishes
 
*  U.S. Masters Swimming 2 event world recordbreaker
 
*  Second place in the women’s 30-39 age group in the Alcatraz Swim
1999Most recently completed various distance swims, the 5K and 10K swims

Michelle was just recently married. She graduated from college in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She entered graduate school and in 1997 she completed her M.B.A in finance and marketing. She currently lives in Dallas, Texas.

“Michelle Chow brought Gateway Women’s Swimming to State prominence. Her accomplishments put W.P.I.A.L. Women’s Swimming on par with the men’s competitions. Her eight P.I.A.A. individual gold medals set a standard by which future winners judge themselves. Michelle’s reputation attracted more swimmers to the Gateway program and her training intensity brought the women’s training to that of the men’s team. Michelle brought a presence to all of the meets and her competitors held her in high regard. Coaching Michelle was very rewarding for me.”

Coach Larry Petrillo

We asked Michelle about her most vivid memory of Gateway High School athletics.

“My most vivid memory of Gateway High School athletics was winning State Championship #7, the 50 freestyle my senior year. After placing fourth in the preliminary round, the feeling of sheer joy and amazement at capturing the State Championship title (and when I tied the state record) in the finals is something I will never forget.”

Michelle Chow, 1999
CHOW, MICHELLE

Leave a memory or comment.

All comments are moderated. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top