GLIAC Meet Record: Fernando held the GLIAC meet record for the 1650 free (15:32.70) for 11 years until it was broken in 2020.
2008-09: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: Earned four First Team All-America accolades, three of which were in individual events in which he broke his own school record ... finished second in the 500 free (4:23.12), third in the 1650 free (15:16.56), and fourth in the 1000 free (9:09.32) ... also swam the third leg of the third-place 800 free relay, which set a school record (6:34.99).
GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIP: Won four conference titles, breaking GLIAC records in all ... broke the conference mark by over eight seconds in the 500 free (4:26.06) and the 1650 record by nearly 11 seconds (15:32.70) ... also won the 1000 free (9:15.06) and swam the second leg of the first-place 800 free relay (6:41.64).
SEASON: Broke the school record in the 500 free for the first time Oct. 25 at Oakland University (4:30.78) ... bested Christian Erard's records for the 1000 and 1650 free events Dec. 5 at the Eastern Michigan Invitational (9:16.95, 15:24.34), broke his own mark in the 500 (4:27.66) and was on the record-setting 800 free relay (6:47.13) ... named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team.
2007-08: Did not participate in any meets.
Pre-WSU: Graduated in 2003 from Escola Secundaria Augusto Gomes ... Attended Indian River Community College for two years ... helped IRCC to two NJCAA National Championships in 2006 and 2007, extending its winning streak to 33 years ... won the 500 free (4:23.57), 1650 free (15:17.29), and the 400 IM (4:01.46) at the 2007 NJCAA national meet ... anchored the NJCAA record-setting 800 free relay (6:36.50) ... represented Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece ... finished 21st in the 1500 meter freestyle (15:32.55) ... competed at the 2006 U.S. Spring Nationals, finishing second in the 1500 meter free (15:25.36), fourth in the 400 meter (3:56.62) and fifth in the 800 meter (8:12.63) ... placed 22nd in the 800 meter free (8:06.44) at the 2007 World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne, Australia.
Personal: Full name--Fernando E. Costa ... born in Porto, Portugal ... son of Fernando and Maria Costa ... has a brother, Joao ... is a nutrition and food science major ... named to the Coach's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) for Winter 2008.
