After a slow start, club swimming gaining momentum

By Ryan Donough

One of the newest additions to the club sports program is not only growing in popularity, but also in skill.

Like many club sports, the club swimming team has seen significant growth in participation. The team has expanded from approximately 10 members in 2006 to nearly 30 members already practicing this fall.

Co-President Rochelle Rock couldn't be happier with the recent spike in popularity and hopes to see the club grow even more.

"I would love to see it go to the NCAA level," Rock said.

Rock's hope that the program will eventually reach the NCAA level may not be unreasonable. Many of the new underclassmen members have been taking charge and showing strong leadership -- one of the reasons behind the recent growth of interest in club swimming.

Club swimming began as a club under Associated Students, but quickly blossomed into more. Rock, who has a background in swimming, started the club as a way to continue pursuing her interest in the sport.

"I started it because I'm actually originally a synchronized swimmer and I did that my first year here at Santa Clara, but I couldn't do it all with swimming and school," Rock said. "So I thought, 'why don't I start a club where I can make the practices?' "

The team started off slow but was eventually accepted into Campus Recreation's club sport system after the boom in club sports last year. That boom allowed many "lower tier" sports that were just getting started to be picked up under the new system.

Currently, the swimming team practices five days a week and shares the pool with the water polo teams.

One problem that Rock had in starting the club was the availability of the facilities here at Santa Clara.

"One of the concerns we had was that we can't practice at the same time as the water polo team because they have priority to the pool," Rock said.

However, the recent $3 million donation by Jack and Joan Sullivan for a new aquatics center may allow the club team to schedule their own practices, since the new facility will allow dual use for both the water polo and swimming teams.

Unlike most club sports, swimming does not charge any membership dues because the pool facilities are free for anyone to use. And while there are minor expenses, the club is one of the most accessible at Santa Clara.

"The only things we do ask for contributions for are gear, but it is probably one of the most affordable club sports out there," Rock said.

The team has yet to schedule any matches, but members are entering a masters tournament here in the Bay Area.

Masters competitions are not team based, but rather scored on individual performances within an age grouping.

Santa Clara will race in the 18 to 25 year old bracket of the masters division. Some of the teams that Santa Clara will race against at the meet will be from the University of San Francisco and Stanford University.

Competing in events such as this tournament will give the Broncos a chance to prove that they can compete against Division I swimmers, Rock said. Rock and Co-President Mary Higgins both firmly believe they have the talent to challenge more prestigious teams.

"We both could (swim at that level), and there are at least 10 on the team who could as well," Rock said.

Those who join the club team don't do so solely for the competition. Swimming is also a great way to stay in shape while forming new relationships in a fun environment, the co-presidents said.

Higgins cites this as one of her main reasons for joining the swimming team.

"I love this so much because it is so individual," Higgins said. "It's nice to have that team, and have people to swim with, to joke with; people who love swimming as much as you -- I'm doing it for my health and to stay in shape."

Contact Ryan Donough at (408) 551- 1918 or rdonough@scu.edu.