For some, Monday mornings mean battling the alarm clock, hitting snooze and trying to get more Zs, but for members of Belmont’s swim club, it’s pool time.
Belmont University introduced a swim club to campus this year.
Nashville notably has two of the largest Southeastern swim clubs in the United States. Belmont is one of only a few collegiate swim teams in the area.
Lily Scott, president of the swim club, has been involved in the “swim world” from an early age, and when she saw that Belmont didn’t have a swim team, she decided to work to make a place on campus for her favorite sport.
Fortunately, finding a faculty advisor for the club was relatively easy.
Beth Douglas, Coordinator of Admissions & Enrollment for the School of Nursing, was very involved in swimming while in college and readily agreed to assist in creating and advising a club at Belmont.
“The big step was finding pool time,” Scott said. “But, like Beth, Douglas Wharam, from the Nashville Aquatic Club, has been passionate about swimming at the collegiate level.”
Wharam agreed to arrange pool time and set up coach provision for Belmont’s swim club.
The club is open to students wishing to swim for competition, for fitness, or just for fun, Scott said.
“No matter what your swim experience is, there is a place for you in the Belmont Swim Club,” she said.
The club will compete at the U.S. Masters Swimming and plans to compete with other collegiate teams in the future.
Scott is pleased with campus’ reaction to the club and looks forward to its growth.
“So many people are thrilled and have been bringing their friends and roommates to join. I don’t think I ever pictured having 50 people on the roster three weeks into it,” she said. “Being a part of the swim club is a great way to meet new people while doing something you love.”
Club practices are held at Centennial Sportsplex downtown. Practices are on Mondays 6:30-7:30 a.m., Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30-10:30 p.m.
-Austill Harris