Emil LaSida, 21, a record-holding swimmer at Case Western Reserve University and a former captain of the Alexandria City High School swim and dive team, died Sept. 15.
Case Western Reserve University announced Sept. 17 that LaSida had died, but the cause of his death has not been released. A fourth-year student majoring in engineering, LaSida set the school record last year in the men’s 50 freestyle with a time of 19.98 seconds at the NCAA Division III Championships and earned All-American Second Team honors, according to the university.
John Gullickson was LaSida’s coach at Alexandria City High School and said on Facebook that LaSida was a leader in and out of the water. He also asked for people to pray for LaSida’s family.
“With a heavy heart I wanted to share the passing of one our Titan Alum: Emil LaSida c/o (class of) 2022,” Gullickson wrote on Facebook. “He was superb Student-Athlete, Men’s Captain, City Champion, Record (s) Holder, State, All Met, Team leader in and out of the water and college swimmer.”
LaSida was a 2021-2022 Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention and held seven swimming records at Case Western Reserve University in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and in the 200-meter and 400-meter medley and freestyle relays, according to the school.
In the 2024/25 school year, LaSida received numerous athletic and academic honors, according to the university.
He received All-America Second Team honors at the 2025 NCAA Championships and placed 15th nationally in the 50 Free. He added a 25th-place national finish in the 100 Back, a 27th-place finish in the 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay, and a 40th-place finish in the 100 Free.
LaSida set school records in the 50 Free (19.98 seconds, NCAA Championships), 100 Free (44.92, Spartan Invitational), 200 Free Relay (1:22.29, UAA Championships), and 400 Free Relay (3:00.97, UAA Championships). He was the first Case Western Reserve University swimmer ever to record a time under 20 seconds in 50 Free. He recorded NCAA B cut times in 50 Free, 100 Free, and 400 Free Relay.
LaSida was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. He added a season-best time of 49.54 seconds in the 100 Back at the NCAA Championships. He placed sixth in 50 Free and eighth in 100 Free at UAA Championships. He earned UAA Swimmer of the Week honors on January 27. He earned UAA All-Academic honors.
While at Alexandria City High School, he swam personal best times of 20.92 seconds in the 50 Free, 50.04 seconds in the 100 Back, and 22.83 seconds in the 50 Back. He was named a 2022 Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention. He swam a 2022 NISCA All-American Consideration Time. He placed third in the 100 Back at the 2022 Virginia State Championships. He earned the Virginia High School League Academic Excellence Award.
He also swam for the Nation’s Capital Swim Club, where he was coached by Jeff King and Paul Makin.
