On Sunday, October 20, Spelman School made waves in aquatics as its Wellness Heart hosted an exhibition occasion to rejoice the inaugural Jaguars Swim Membership. This marks the primary all-women’s swimming membership at a traditionally Black faculty or college. Spelman’s aquatics director and head coach, Adrienne Wesley, spearheads the newly established staff.
The exhibition showcased the abilities of 14 membership members, comprised of scholars and workers, who participated in varied particular person and relay swimming occasions. Rivals took to the water in particular person medley, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle races, with distances starting from 25 to 100 yards, alongside 4 x 50 yards relay competitions.
Swimming Towards The Tide
Samiyah Younger, C’2025, a biology main hailing from Chicago, leads the cost as president of the membership’s government board. A former aggressive swimmer, Younger emphasised the importance of the membership in selling illustration for Black girls in a sport historically underrepresented by folks of coloration. “Main this staff means not solely fostering group but in addition creating an area the place Black girls can thrive in a sport that always lacks illustration,” she said. “Swimming at Spelman is a robust approach to problem norms, break limitations, and characterize out and in of the water.”
Past competitors, the Jaguars Swim Membership goals to boost individuals’ swimming abilities, promote health, and problem stereotypes surrounding swimming within the Black group. Coach Adrienne Wesley echoed this sentiment: “The Spelman Jaguars Swim Staff isn’t just about competitors. It represents empowerment and group for Black girls. Swimming fosters confidence, resilience, and camaraderie amongst our college students, offering them with precious life abilities each out and in of the pool.”
Wanting forward, the Jaguars Swim Membership plans to compete by means of School Membership Swimming, which is affiliated with U.S. Masters Swimming. This group strives to spice up participation in swimming at HBCUs nationwide.
