Clemson Swimming Program

As many of us are aware, Clemson University has decided to “phase out” their swimming program because they feel that they lack the proper facilities to be competitive in the ACC. We would probably all agree that the facility is not the best, and we would all like to see a new facility at Clemson but I think that everyone would agree that Coach Ip and his staff have done an excellent job of recruiting and training highly motivated athletes who have been successful despite the lack of a 50 meter pool and a fancy facility. These student athletes deserve to be supported and helped in their fight to save the program.

I have taken an email that I received and pasted talking points that you are welcome to use in your letters and emails to the people who can make a difference for these students. Most of the swimmers in the program plan to stay and several of the new recruits still plan to make Clemson their home this fall- Please help them and support the sport of swimming in our state. All of our kids should have this opportunity.

Clemson swimmers are responsible for the following honors and accolades:

 16 individual ACC champions

 15 men's school records

 13 women's school records

 32 all-acc swimmers

 8 all American performances

 5 Olympic trial participants

 Men GPA - average GPA above 3.00 for men in all 14 semesters Women GPA - above the general student population average GPA of 3.33 for women in all 14 semester, ALSO ABOVE the general student population

 5 James-Weaver Corrigan scholarship recipients

 2 NCAA Post-graduate scholarships

 7 academic all-Americans: These are honored based on 1st: Athletic excellence, 2nd: Academics, 3rd: Leadership, and 4th: Service Presidents Cup Award won two years in a row

2 Bill D'Andrea Service Awards

1 Edwards Service Award

 

This year alone the swim team logged over 1200 community service hours, had 9 make the President's list (4.00) and 9 on the Dean's list (3.5 - 3.99).

 

I not sure how everyone else see this, but it certainly doesn't look like a team that can't compete.

We are also asking for people to write to the President of Clemson, James F. Barker and to the AD Terry Don Phillips, to show their support for the program. 

 

Terry Don Phillips

Athletic Director

Clemson University

864-656-1935

pterry@clemson.edu

 

James F. Barker, FAIA

President

Clemson University

201 Sikes Hall

Clemson, SC 29634

864-656-3413

jbarker@clemson.edu

 

The kids are going to do everything they can to try and save the program. We have seen tremendous support so far from the swimming community, including coaches, swimmers and alumni from Univ. SC, UNC, FSU, Maryland and beyond. Any help you can offer to help spread the word and support their effort is greatly appreciate. Hopefully we can help build a model for support that will help other programs as well.

 

Thank you in advance for you help. Feel free to forward this information on to anyone you wish.

 

Maggie Boliek

General Chair

South Carolina Swimming

 

Clemson Swimming in Word Format