Photo:
The Maroon Tiger Student Newspaper
The Maroon TigerSharks are BACK!
After a 32-year hiatus, Morehouse College has resuscitated the swimming program.
Years in the making, the Swim Team Club's-now named the Maroon Tiger Sharks-return occurred due to the efforts of Morehouse student Windsor A. Vega Jr., coaches Kareem Bland, Gary Wyatt, Terry Hampton, and Physical Education Program Lydia Woods.
The former team was widely regarded as a powerhouse swim team by media publications such as Black Sports and Sports Illustrated. During its existence, the swim team accumulated 255 wins, with just 25 losses and over 15 SIAC championships from 1958 to 1976 resulting in one of the most successful sports team in the Morehouse history. The Tiger Sharks enjoyed success over three decades before its dissolution in 1976 due to lack of funding.
Once again swimming is associated with Morehouse College and this new club strives to resurrect the past team’s rich history. Vega, who is the team club president, has high aspirations and expectations for the newly formed student run organization that has member from Morehouse, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University.
“We want to bring back what the Sharks had and reach new heights,” Vega said. “I’m motivated by the old swim teams that broke several records in competitive swimming. We have the funds; we just need the bodies. When people think of Morehouse, I want them to think of swimming.”
“Our goal is to get everything organized right now,” said bland, the Morehouse aquatics coordinator. “We need to raise money, train regularly and eventually compete against other schools by next semester.”
The Maroon Tiger Sharks currently are designated as a club or student run organization with aspirations of being accredited as a team by the NCAA by fall 2009. Coach Bland spoke about how the Maroon Tiger Sharks plan to reach the goal of accreditation by the NCAA.
“We have three months to get organized,” Bland said. “My goal is to be competitive by next semester. I am going to set up time trials in order to gauge where we are during practice. Once we are where we need to be I can call schools like Georgia Tech and Georgia State and get competitions set up with them.”
According to Vega, the team consists of more than 40 members and continues to expand, including 30 experienced swimmers. He noted that swimming develops poise and discipline and offered an invitation to all schools within the AUC to join.
Swimmer Jerren Hoder discussed the club team’s chances of becoming a major sport again at Morehouse and his goals as a member.
“I definitely see the team expanding into a competitive group of guys and girls living up to their potential,” Hoder said. “I want to be able to help people to swim, train regularly, and get to the point of competing against other schools.”
Vega said that during training sessions, they emphasize 200-meter kicks, swimming 600-meters, **** stroke and butterfly.
