Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Four freshmen are starting a co-ed club swim team to provide non-varsity student-athletes with an opportunity to represent Hillsdale College Athletics through swimming as well as to build community. 

Freshmen Finn Fleischer, Dylan Glover, Nick Rutkoski, and Hayden Stolzenberg are working together to bring their love of swimming to as many students as they can. 

“We have been working on finding a faculty sponsor, drafting the team bylaws, and coming up with a practice schedule and structure,” Stolzenberg said. 

The club currently has around 15 members, both men and women, with multiple more students interested in joining the club. 

The co-ed club swim team will apply for club sport status, and it will eventually join College Club Swimming to compete with colleges across the Midwest region. 

Glover said the four club officers will take turns coaching until they find someone to be the club’s official coach. 

“I coached for multiple teams throughout high school, and I’d like to improve my own coaching knowledge and ability through applying what I’ve learned teaching younger swimmers to older swimmers of various skill levels,” Stolzenberg said. 

“Our main focus is helping people become what they need to become and building their characters,” Glover said. “Through swimming and through interaction students can bond over their shared swimming experiences, developing strong content of character.” 

According to Rita Jenkins, who is the Hillsdale College Athletic Department aquatic director, the aquatic department looks forward to the success of the club swim team. 

“I will work to find times for the men’s swim club team to practice just like I’ve done in the past for the water polo club team,” Jenkins said.

Fleischer, Glover, Rutkoski, and Stolzenberg said they want to make sure the club they found is around for a long time. 

“The plan is to start it early on. We’re all freshmen, so we have four years to structure it,” Glover said. “That way by the time we finish, the club can be rolling with an established coach.”