GBHS grad new South Alabama track coach
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com
Paul Brueske (GBHS c/o '94) has been named Head Women'Track and Field Coach at the University of South AlabamaDirector of Athletics Joe Gottfried announced last week.

Brueske will also oversee all administrative aspects for the entire track and field and cross country program.

Brueske has spent the last two years as head coach of both the men's and women's programs at St. Paul's, where he led the boys' team to backto back Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A outdoor state championships in 2006 and 2007. The Saints were also the 2007 indoor champions. Additionally, 15 student-athletes earned individual state titles during his tenure.

"We are excited to have Paul Brueske heading our women's Cross Country and Track and Field program," Gottfried said. "He brings a background of tremendous success to us. We have followed Paul's career closely since graduation and, with the timing of hiring women's head coach, he fit our profile."

Prior to his arrival at St. Paul's, Brueske worked with the UMS-Wright Preparatory track & field program, helping the Bulldogs to three consecutive state championships in both the girls and boys divisions during his time there.

Brueske

At UMS-Wright, he worked primarily with the field events and has worked with 15 individual 4A state champions in the throws, high jump and pole vault. He assisted UMSWright athletes establish new school records in the pole vault, javelin and shot put.

Brueske was also an assistant with the UMS-Wright varsity football team that compiled a 38-4 winning record and won the 2002 4A state championship.

"I am grateful and excited about the opportunity to return to South Alabama," Brueske said. "I plan to work very hard to build a competitive program at USA."

Brueske is a 1998 graduate of South Alabama, where he was a member of the track team. On a part time basis, he has worked for the past five years as strength coach for the nationally-ranked tennis program at the University of South Alabama.

In other Gulf Breeze High grad news:

Keith Savage (c/o '03), who graduated from the University of West Florida last week, was in Fort Lauderdale last week preparing for Friday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Baltimore.

Savage

Savage finished his UWF career as the school's all-time assist leader with 25. He was also third in goals with 47. He was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection and an All American as a junior. Andy Atzhorn (c/o '06) earned two first places and one second place as South Carolina won a three-team meet with Davidson and Duke Saturday at Davidson College.

Atzhorn won the 400 yard individual medley (4:09.29) and was the second leg on USC's winning 400 yard medley relay (3:29.67). He was also second in the 200 yard backstroke (1:53.94).

Former GBHS teammates Stevi Steinhauer (c/o '06) and Morgan Tibbs (c/o '07) met Saturday as Steinhauer's FSU squad beat Tibbs' Florida Gulf Coast team, along with Florida A&M and Florida International Saturday in Tallahassee.

Steinhauer was fifth in the 200 yard freestyle (1:58.85), while Jimmy Holway (c/o '05) was third in the 100 yard butterfly (53.77) for the Noles.

Atzhorn

Tibbs was the second leg on FGCU's second place finish in the 200 yard freestyle relay (1:47.92). She was also seventh in the 1,000 yard freestyle (11:41.16) and 10th in the 100 yard butterfly (1:04.68).

Courtney Brown (c/o '06) placed in two meets for the Auburn swim team last weekendBrown was third (196.26) in 1 meter diving during Auburn'157-80 win over Texas Thursday and was fifth (192.2) in 218-72 win over Southern Methodist and a 155-139 win over Texas A&M Saturday.

Jay Schmitz (c/o '07) finished third in one event and fifth in another to help Rollins College defeat Sewanee 116-87 Saturday.

Schmitz was the third leg on Rollins' third place finish in the 200 yard medley relay (1:49.68) and was fifth in the 100 yard butterfly (58.8).

Steinhauer Tibbs Brown