SHEARER, SCOTT

Gateway Class of 1977

Scott Shearer‘s swimming accomplishments are the result of his tireless training, motivation and his competitive nature.  Scott was the quiet teammate whose leadership was proven by always practicing and competing at one hundred percent.  His teammates fed off his intense work ethic and supportive encouragement.  Scott’s attention to perfect his technique and his understanding of the necessary practice swim pace propelled his career to being named ALL-STATE his sophomore, junior and senior years.  In 1977, his senior year, Scott’s PIAA 200-yard freestyle first place finish earned him ALL-American status and his time is still the Gateway High School team record.  His senior year times in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly would still place him in the top ten in the WPIAL championships. Scott’s initiative and success continued throughout his college experiences and in his professional career.  He is currently President and CEO of CSE Corporation, located in Monroeville, employing 130 workers and manufactures safety equipment for the mining industry.

HIGH SCHOOL

As a freshman at the WPIAL championships, Scott showed the promise of his swimming prowess as he finished twelfth in the 500 freestyle and thirteenth in the 200 freestyle and was voted Gateway Swim Team’s Outstanding Freshman.  Scott’s initiative and tireless work ethic resulted in him reaching his goals and became the team’s most versatile and most valuable swimmer throughout his last three years at Gateway.  In his sophomore year at the WPIAL championships, he finished second in the 200 freestyle, third in the 100 freestyle and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.  At the PIAA championships he made the ALL-State team by finishing twelfth and thirteenth in his events.  In his junior year, Scott placed second in the 200 freestyle, fifth in the 100 freestyle and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay at the WPIAL championships.  At the PIAA championships he gained ALL-STATE honors by placing sixth and seventh in his individual events.  As a senior, Scott achieved his ultimate goal of winning a gold medal at the PIAA championships.  At the WPIALS he took third in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.  As Gateway’s only qualifier to the PIAA championships, Scott trained alone for two weeks for his two events.  Aside from the physical training, Scott daily prepared mentally to swim the pace necessary to win the State title in the 200 freestyle.  He also had to prepare to swim the 100 butterfly about twenty minutes after the 200.  In the 200 freestyle preliminaries, Scott finished third behind two Shaler swimmers who had been his nemesis for many years.  In the evening finals, his focus and determination proved a winning combination as he swam the practice pace to perfection, sprinting into the last turn, passing the Shaler swimmers.  Scott was PIAA Champion earning not only ALL-STATE honors but also ALL-American honors. In the preliminaries, he also qualified for the finals in the butterfly and with only twenty minutes to rest, he finished fifth in this event. Scott’s 1977 time in the 200 freestyle is still the Gateway High School record.  His swim in the finals of the 200 freestyle was his most vivid memory as a Gator athlete.

COLLEGE

Scott’s swimming accomplishments continued throughout his college years.  As a freshman at Clarion University, he qualified for the NCAA division II championships in three individual and two relay events, won the 200 freestyle at the Pennsylvania State College Conference meet receiving All-Conference honors in five events and NCAA All-American honors in two individual events and two relay events.  As a freshman Scott was the team record holder in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly and a member of the record setting 400 and 800 freestyle relays.  As a result of coaching changes, Scott transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington (Texas A&M) during his sophomore year swimming for Ex-Gator Mel Nash.  However, Texas A&M dropped their Men’s Swim team leading Scott to transfer to the University of Pittsburgh where during his junior year was named to the All-East team in three events.  During his senior year he was named to the All-East team at the Big East championships by winning the 200 individual medley and the 200 freestyle individual events and was a member of the winning 400 and 800 freestyle relays.  His time in the 200 freestyle event qualified him for the NCAA championships and was the first Pitt swimmer to break the 1:40.00.  He held the Pitt school record from 1981 to 1993.

GATEWAY CONNECTIONS

Scott’s swimming career brought him many well-earned honors and many Gateway connections.  In addition, for swimming for Gateway Hall of Famer Mel Nash, while completing his degree, he was a Pitt assistant coach and also coached the Pitt Aquatic Club.  Swimming at the Aquatic Club were Hall of Fame Gators Celeste Makiel, Anne Spaeder, and Melanie Morgan.  Scott’s son and daughter competed for North Allegheny High School Swim Team that is coached by Gateway Hall of Famer Corky Semeler and assisted by Celeste Makiel.

There is no doubt of Scott Sharer’s legacy and contributions to the traditions and history of Gator Swimming and why he deserves to be a member of the Gateway Hall of Fame.

SHEARER, SCOTT

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