LINCOLN, Neb. (May 18, 2015) — Fueled by a love of swimming, Maria Seematter of Marysville, Kansas will be both competitor and coach at the 2015 State Games of America (SGA) in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 28–August 2. Seematter was named the 2014 Sunflower State Games Athlete of the Year after winning three gold medals and a silver. She also coaches the Marysville swim team and will bring six athletes, including her daughter, to SGA 2015.
Seematter won a gold and two silver medals at the 2009 State Games of America in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also competed at the 2007 SGA. She says the event offers a unique opportunity to compete with athletes from across the country. “The State Games of America have been amazing experiences. Our team doesn’t swim year-round or compete in a lot of major meets, so we were a little intimidated,” said Seematter. “But some of our swimmers medaled that first year.”
As a coach, Seematter is looking forward to seeing her athletes compete in a national event that’s close to home. She says she’s loved swimming her whole life, and she encourages anyone who is eligible to enter SGA 2015. “Try it. Don’t be intimidated and think you’re not good enough,” Seematter said. “It’s about getting out there with people who love to do the same thing you do and having fun.”
Registration for the 2015 State Games of America remains open through July 1 at SGA2015.com. For most sports, the competition is open to qualifying medalists from states with sanctioned state games events. As the host state, all Nebraska athletes are eligible to enter any event. Exceptions are the developing sports, which are open to all entrants regardless of home state. Developing sports include: adventure race, arm wrestling, chess, electronic darts, fishing, foosball, gravel grinder (cycling), horseshoe pitching, pocket billiards, road race (5K and 10-mile), sailing, sport skydiving, walking and water skiing.
More than 5,000 competitors from 45 states and the District of Columbia have entered so far. With more than 60 sports, SGA 2015 is expected to be the largest State Games of America event ever. Details regarding events, eligibility, hotel accommodations and the host city of Lincoln are available at SGA2015.com. Follow State Games of America on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.
