February is already the greatest month of 2021 and we are only 5 days in! Looking ahead we have much to be excited for.
Busbey Natatorium Renovation Progress: We are nearing the end of our MILLION DOLLAR Renovation project! The glass for the 10-meter railings is being installed and we have just a few more repairs to make before we finish filling the pool. Our pool is currently half full! I came across this quote “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a positive attitude while waiting.” Our swimmers and divers have been incredibly patient during the renovations and have adapted to continuously changing schedules this fall and winter. We truly have enhanced and evolved our approaches to training because of this pandemic and construction project. They believe in and trust the process. I am so proud of our swimmers and divers. They have truly grown as individuals and forged a tighter bond as a team through all of this. They literally have matured in front of my eyes. They have learned lifelong skills about real communication, accountability, trust, and perseverance.
Our ENTIRE team is back and in the water training. Dominik Niedzlialek arrived on Tuesday at 6 pm from Poland. He battled Covid-19 while home for the holiday’s and got cleared to practice. All of our other athletes that fell ill to COVID are doing well: they are an inspiration. Spinning and Yoga classes have been a huge factor in their returns going so well.
We have meets SCHEDULED! Pending negative COVID Tests of course. We will not be having spectators, but are finding ways to creatively engage our friends, family, and fans (if you have an idea, please let me know!)
Thursday Feb 11th: We are so excited to travel across town to Notre Dame College. We will compete with the women at 1pm and the men at 5 pm in separate sessions. Our team is so excited to be able to dive off of starting blocks for the first time since MARCH 2020!
Friday Feb 12th: ALUMNI SOCIAL ON ZOOM! It’s been a while since and we have much to catch up on. Mark your calendar, invite and time to be set soon!
Friday Feb 19th: at Oakland University
Saturday Feb 27th:We will be hosting UIC and celebrating our SENIORS!
March 13th: at Youngstown
The Horizon League Championship meet is set for the week of April 4-10
GIVING DAY: February 16th Please mark your calendars for Giving Day February 16th. We all know the renovations to our Natatorium is truly ESSENTIAL for our program’s survival. However, in the grand scheme of the world, it is not essential for the university however they made it a priority! We are infinitely grateful that our university and athletic department prioritize our program and support us. Giving Day is a way for all of us to say thank you to the University. Your gift will directly impact our swimmers and divers transformational experience. Your gift will also be a way to say “I see what you’ve overcome and I am behind you and believe that what you have persevered through has been worth it”.
This year, we are focusing on two main areas that directly support our men's and women's swim and dive student-athletes.
Enhanced and Evolved Training Gifts for #UnprecedentedOutcomes to the swimming and diving program. Your gift will help fund the acquisition of competitive swim suits and the expansion of dry-land training equipment and noted equipment below:
- Yoga + Spin Classes
- Stretch Cords (injury prevention equipment)
- Power Tower Repair & Replacement Parts
- Power Rack (4)
- Boxing Equipment
- TRX to use on the pull up bars on deck
- Tech Suits for Horizon League
Swimming & Diving Scholarships for NOW and the FUTURE. Please continue to support our endowed scholarships for our current and future Vikings. Your participation on Giving Day 2021 will help us reach our goal of engaging 375 donors to support our swimmers and divers.
How can you help? Give what you can….Even if it’s $19 to feel like something positive is coming from the pandemic or $20.21 to celebrate the new year and new opportunities.
Can you give more than that? Let me know if you have a larger ability to give or something that we can use as an incentive for others to give. Maybe you can get your friends, family, and previous teammates to give by signing up as an Ambassador.
And as always feel free to email or better yet give me a call at 216.386.8067
Stay healthy, be well, and GO VIKES!
HB
