Martin introduced as new BG swim coach

BG Director of Athletics Greg Christopher announced last week that Petra Martin will be the new head coach of the BG swimming team.

Martin becomes the seventh coach in program history after Keri Buff stepped down from the same position in mid-August.

Martin comes to BG with a lot of experience as both a swimmer and coach, spending eight years competing on the Czech National Swim Team and four years as a collegiate assistant coach.

Most recently, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at George Mason University. While at George Mason, the 32-year old coached several World Championship trials qualifiers and worked directly with swimmers who finished as high as second at the NCAA National Championships.

Prior to George Mason, Martin was the assistant swimming coach at the University of Maryland from 2003-04, after graduating from the University in 2003.

Martin's all-around experience as a swimmer and a coach will be very beneficial for the Falcons as they have struggled in years past.

Martin's time spent as a coach and as a swimmer on competitive teams will have a positive impact on a team that is looking to put its one-win season a year ago behind it.

And despite BG losing its lone senior, Meg Richardson, who was named to the 2010 All Mid-American Conference First Team, the Falcons have a talented core of swimmers - including junior Vicky Yu.

Martin will make her debut as coach of the Falcons Oct. 30, when BG opens the season at home against Akron.