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/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Claire Kemmere is involved with various national swimming organizations and assisted in a recent US Swimming merger.
Rocket Spotlight on Claire Kemmere
11/21/2025 10:47:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
On goals for her freshman season, serving as a student-athlete rep for national swimming organizations and avoiding playing in the dirt
Claire Kemmere is a freshman on the Toledo women's swimming and diving team and competes in distance freestyle events. Kemmere is a health sciences major and is on the pre-physical therapy track.
On why she chose to come to Toledo
I decided to come to Toledo because of the culture and the teammates. On my visit, I saw such a supportive environment surrounding the swim and dive team and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I felt like Jacy (Dyer) was a good coach and enjoyed the training and workouts I saw the team doing when I was visiting.
On how she became a competitive swimmer
My parents tried to get me into every sport, including soccer or t-ball but I kept telling them I didn't want to play in the dirt. Growing up, my grandparents had a pool and I liked to be in the water, so my parents decided to put me in swim lessons and I stuck with it. I started swimming around 4 years old and then began competitions when I was 6. I did some backstroke races, but my coaches put me into freestyle. They wanted me to try out distance races and since I was a stubborn 13-year-old, I didn't want to. I ended up really enjoying those races. I'm doing the mile at the West Virginia Invite this season and I'm really excited.
On the groups she is involved with in swimming
I've been involved with Ohio Swimming for about five years. I began as a junior athlete representative and now serve as a senior athlete representative and the director of logistics and strategy. I have been helping oversee a big merger with Ohio Swimming, the governing body of competitive swimming in the state of Ohio. I am also a member of the Safe Sport Board. I serve as an athlete representative for the USA Swimming Safe Sport National Committee which helps keep athletes safe by implementing various measures.
On assisting with the Ohio Swimming merger
The state used to be split into two Local Swimming Communities (LSC) of Ohio and Lake Erie. I've been on the board as we look to merge the two LSCs and become one to help better serve the state of Ohio and the swimmers within it. We have finally completed the merge, which is the first time in USA Swimming history that two LSCs have become one that covers the entire state. The merger launched on September 1st after we've been working on this project for two and a half years. The first few weeks of college were a hard adjustment, honestly. I was trying to figure out college and adjust to a new place and new schedule as well as make sure I was ready for our merger.
Now, we have various athlete committees within Ohio Swimming, including our Athlete Executive Committee which is the one I oversee. I help manage everyone who is in an athlete representative position, which is about 20 people, and help break them up into different groups within the organization so we are all involved with various parts of the group. I help put together meetings for all of our athlete representatives by creating agendas and checking in with everyone for updates from their respective groups.
On what she has learned being a member of Ohio Swimming and the Safe Sport Board
Definitely leadership and organization. I feel like I'm pretty organized myself but it's different when you're trying to manage other people, especially where there isn't a hierarchy of positions. I try to help people in whatever ways I can when it comes to these organizations. Fore example, we started an Instagram page last September when we were at national business meetings and it has grown to over 2,000 followers. I've also learned that the connections I've made with people through these organizations is really special. There aren't a ton of people who work within USA Swimming on a day-to-day basis in a full-time capacity, so each person brings different experiences to the board and share with us. It's awesome to have all these connections and it makes going to swim meets more fun since I get to see a lot of them in person. Usually we meet on Zoom calls, but it's awesome to meet in person and get to know them better as we work to make USA Swimming the best it can be.
On what she is most excited about for her freshman season
I'm excited to race. Honestly, there isn't a time I don't like to race. It's really cool to see what you have as you race in a new environment and against your new teammates and people you haven't competed against before. I know some swimmers in the conference from high school and club, so it's exciting to be able to compete against a brand new group of people. I hope to make it to finals at the MAC Championship and drop time overall this season. Those are my big goals.
On studying physical therapy
I've always wanted to do something within the medical or health science field. I was very set on pharmacy for a while, but then I went to physical therapy when I was 14 for my shoulder and I was exposed into that world. I like how there's so many different opportunities with it and so many different people you could work with and I really liked it. I'm looking forward to taking chemistry and anatomy, especially because anatomy is hands-on.
On what she enjoys to do in her free time
I like to bake and cook whatever's on my mind. Sometimes, my sister and I bake cookies and other baked goods. I also walk a lot, I feel like it's an easy way to de-stress. I also enjoy watching sunsets and sunrises with my friends.
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On why she chose to come to Toledo
I decided to come to Toledo because of the culture and the teammates. On my visit, I saw such a supportive environment surrounding the swim and dive team and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I felt like Jacy (Dyer) was a good coach and enjoyed the training and workouts I saw the team doing when I was visiting.
On how she became a competitive swimmer
My parents tried to get me into every sport, including soccer or t-ball but I kept telling them I didn't want to play in the dirt. Growing up, my grandparents had a pool and I liked to be in the water, so my parents decided to put me in swim lessons and I stuck with it. I started swimming around 4 years old and then began competitions when I was 6. I did some backstroke races, but my coaches put me into freestyle. They wanted me to try out distance races and since I was a stubborn 13-year-old, I didn't want to. I ended up really enjoying those races. I'm doing the mile at the West Virginia Invite this season and I'm really excited.
On the groups she is involved with in swimming
I've been involved with Ohio Swimming for about five years. I began as a junior athlete representative and now serve as a senior athlete representative and the director of logistics and strategy. I have been helping oversee a big merger with Ohio Swimming, the governing body of competitive swimming in the state of Ohio. I am also a member of the Safe Sport Board. I serve as an athlete representative for the USA Swimming Safe Sport National Committee which helps keep athletes safe by implementing various measures.
On assisting with the Ohio Swimming merger
The state used to be split into two Local Swimming Communities (LSC) of Ohio and Lake Erie. I've been on the board as we look to merge the two LSCs and become one to help better serve the state of Ohio and the swimmers within it. We have finally completed the merge, which is the first time in USA Swimming history that two LSCs have become one that covers the entire state. The merger launched on September 1st after we've been working on this project for two and a half years. The first few weeks of college were a hard adjustment, honestly. I was trying to figure out college and adjust to a new place and new schedule as well as make sure I was ready for our merger.
Now, we have various athlete committees within Ohio Swimming, including our Athlete Executive Committee which is the one I oversee. I help manage everyone who is in an athlete representative position, which is about 20 people, and help break them up into different groups within the organization so we are all involved with various parts of the group. I help put together meetings for all of our athlete representatives by creating agendas and checking in with everyone for updates from their respective groups.
On what she has learned being a member of Ohio Swimming and the Safe Sport Board
Definitely leadership and organization. I feel like I'm pretty organized myself but it's different when you're trying to manage other people, especially where there isn't a hierarchy of positions. I try to help people in whatever ways I can when it comes to these organizations. Fore example, we started an Instagram page last September when we were at national business meetings and it has grown to over 2,000 followers. I've also learned that the connections I've made with people through these organizations is really special. There aren't a ton of people who work within USA Swimming on a day-to-day basis in a full-time capacity, so each person brings different experiences to the board and share with us. It's awesome to have all these connections and it makes going to swim meets more fun since I get to see a lot of them in person. Usually we meet on Zoom calls, but it's awesome to meet in person and get to know them better as we work to make USA Swimming the best it can be.
On what she is most excited about for her freshman season
I'm excited to race. Honestly, there isn't a time I don't like to race. It's really cool to see what you have as you race in a new environment and against your new teammates and people you haven't competed against before. I know some swimmers in the conference from high school and club, so it's exciting to be able to compete against a brand new group of people. I hope to make it to finals at the MAC Championship and drop time overall this season. Those are my big goals.
On studying physical therapy
I've always wanted to do something within the medical or health science field. I was very set on pharmacy for a while, but then I went to physical therapy when I was 14 for my shoulder and I was exposed into that world. I like how there's so many different opportunities with it and so many different people you could work with and I really liked it. I'm looking forward to taking chemistry and anatomy, especially because anatomy is hands-on.
On what she enjoys to do in her free time
I like to bake and cook whatever's on my mind. Sometimes, my sister and I bake cookies and other baked goods. I also walk a lot, I feel like it's an easy way to de-stress. I also enjoy watching sunsets and sunrises with my friends.
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Manufactured In The Glass City - Emma Thompson - Teaser
Friday, May 09
Toledo Women's Swimming and Diving Senior Day
Thursday, February 20
Toledo Women's Swimming and Diving Intro 2024
Tuesday, November 19
Toledo Women's Swim and Dive Intro 2024
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