Club swim workforce able to make a splash with full season in new rec heart – Marquette Wire

“Dark.” “Crammed.” “Old yellow-ish lighting.”

That is how membership swim president, Jake Van Lanen, a junior within the College of Education, described the previous apply location for Marquette membership swim.

The workforce was compelled to apply within the basement of Straz Tower amid the development of the brand new Wellness + Helfaer Recreation Facility over the course of the final two years.

“We had 10 people in each lane hand-to-foot” Van Lanen mentioned. “It was a lot.”

The workforce had considerations being within the outdated rec plex earlier than, training with solely 4 lanes out there.

With the brand new rec heart in place, Van Lanen famous that members are excited to reap the benefits of the alternatives it gives. 

“The new blocks at the rec center are permanently installed, and just nicer all around,” Morgan Frech, a senior within the College of Health Sciences mentioned.

Van Lanen explains that because of the new and improved gear, the workforce can supply a few totally different ranges of exercises as a result of there may be extra room for swimmers.

Pending the return of a enough variety of swimmers, Van Lanen and the workforce are ready to compete on the highest degree within the rec heart as a result of it permits for extra enchancment in particular person efficiency ranges, permitting for extra apply time. 

The workforce is a part of College Club Swimming, a division of U.S. Masters swimming which is split into 5 areas that span throughout the nation.

With Marquette within the central area, the workforce travels primarily to universities like Notre Dame, Purdue, and Minnesota. 

“I think having the new rec center will make the team more competitive in the sense that we will be able to hold competitions [and] meets,” mentioned Frech.  

The workforce’s first-ever hosted meet was held within the new rec heart within the spring 2025 semester, the place 5 different college membership groups had been capable of compete multi function area wherein the swimmers actually loved.

“It was so fun seeing the new pool filled with fast swimmers and swimmers from all over!” Lily Larson mentioned, a junior within the College of Arts & Sciences.

The new rec heart may also support in constructing extra of a neighborhood. 

“I feel that the number of ranges of participation and competitiveness is without doubt one of the nice issues in regards to the membership, Frech mentioned. 

This additionally means anybody who can swim within the dwelling meets can take part with out additional values.  

The workforce can also be a cornerstone of friendship growth.

“I’ve made some of my best friends at Marquette through club swim,” Van Lanen mentioned.

Now, with six lanes out there, the workforce is able to carry out for the upcoming season.

“I’m excited to see what we do with it [the new rec center] this year and beyond,” mentioned Frech. 

The workforce is dual-hosting their first occasion of the season within the new rec heart with University of Wisconsin-Madison on Sept. 27.

This story was written by Ben Ward. He will be reached at [email protected].