In the Washburn Natatorium, a story of community and teamwork unfolds under the clear, blue surface of the water. When one walks in, they are hit with the familiar pool smell, mixed with the bubbling energy of the Swim and Dive Club.
The club meets once a week on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and welcomes swimmers of all skill levels.
At meetings, swimmers can either choose to participate in the club workouts or tread water and talk with their friends. The workouts are inclusive and can be both easy or hard depending on the skill levels of the swimmers.
For those who are interested in joining the club but are worried about not being able to keep up, it’s important to know that the barrier of entry for beginner swimmers is low.
Liz Duvall, a senior communication major, has led the club for the past three years and started in her second semester of college. She emphasizes the club’s inclusivity for swimmers of all levels.
“All levels are invited. We have times where there’s nobody who knows how to swim and there’s times where practices have people who were swimmers in high school so there’s a variety for sure,” Duvall said. “If you want to just relax, you’re more than welcome to just tread water and talk with each other.”
The club’s first meeting started out with only three swimmers in the pool. Even with only three swimmers at the time, the friendliness and enthusiasm of the team was clear from the start.
Eventually, as more swimmers arrived, the team’s energy multiplied. Not long afterwards, the sounds of crashing water and splashes filled the natatorium.
The Swim and Dive Club offers a fun place for people to swim, meet new friends and get in a good workout. Over the years, the club has cultivated a tight-knit community that has brought together people from different backgrounds.
Peyton Price, a junior business student double majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship & innovation, is a member of the club who enjoys being part of the community. Joining the club has also allowed her to level up her skills as a swimmer.
“I like the social aspects. I can come here by myself and it’s never as fun. Plus I get a good workout in with some built-in fun time,” Price said. “I was a complete noob last semester and now I actually kind of know how to do some stuff.”
Christa Nioce, a junior forensic investigation major, is another member who enjoys the community aspect of the club. Unlike Price, Nioce did not start as a beginner and instead joined the club with experience in competitive swimming from high school.
“I swam in high school and I was just looking for a way to meet people and stay active with swimming,” Nioce said. “It’s a very tight-knit group of people and it’s fun to just get together with them every week and swim.”
This semester, the club brought on a member from another part of the world.
Jesper Lindberg, an exchange student majoring in history, flew in from Sweden and made new friends at the Washburn Natatorium. With past experience as a competitive swimmer, the club gave Lindberg a way to continue practicing his skills.
“I used to be a competitive swimmer in my teenage years and I still need to keep up my own technique,” Lindberg said. “So far, it seems like a nice group and it’s gonna be fun. Even though it’s only one practice a week, it’s gonna be fun to meet some friends who like to swim too.”
With a couple of members who have had previous experience in competitive swimming, one could wonder if the club has ever considered competing with clubs from other schools. It turns out that competitive swimming was previously on the horizon.
“We’re hoping to get there. We were going to compete with K-State our first year of starting the club, however, they ended up stopping their swim club,” Duvall said. “Now we’re trying to scout out for other competitions. For now, we’re kind of just getting more people to join the club.”
For anyone looking to do some serious training, float around treading water, or meet new friends, the Swim and Dive club offers an inclusive space for swimmers of all levels. With its tight-knit community, this club is an excellent student organization to be a part of, even for those who have no idea how to swim.
Edited by Aja Carter and and LeSha’ Davis
