South Bend Adams High School, 1977 – 79
Ron Zhiss swam for South Bend John Adams High School from 1976-1979. Zhiss was a three-time state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke winning it at three consecutive state meets from 1977-79. His senior year, he also broke the state record swimming it in 59.84. At the 1978 state meet, Zhiss also swam the breaststroke leg of the winning 200-yard medley relay and placed seventh in the 200-yard individual medley helping the Eagles to a third-place team finish. Ron went on to swim at UCLA where he was a member of the Bruins 1982 NCAA Championship Team. He twice earned All-American honors in the 200-yard breaststroke. Ron also competed at the international level as a member of the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City and the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv where he won gold in the 200-meter breaststroke and silver in the 100-meter breaststroke. He also competed in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke events at the 1980 Olympic Trials. Ron graduated from UCLA in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He went on to complete a Master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is the owner of Hoosier Closets. Ron now resides in Carmel with his wife Carolyn. They have three sons, Daniel, Andrew, and Matthew.