By: Cayden Acord
Staff Writer
The Wingate Natatorium, the home of the university’s men’s and
women’s swimming teams, has been shut down since the beginning of the
semester due to repairs and renovations that are being made as a result of a
major seal that broke on the pool’s aging filtration system.
As a result of the closing, the school’s swimming teams have had their
preseason preparations upended while waiting for the refurbishing to be
completed. Without a practice facility, the Bulldogs have been forced to
make the 15-minute drive to Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe for
nearly three-hour workouts that begin every day at 5:30 a.m. Complicating
things even more, team members are having to carpool to get there.
It has been a challenging first month on the job for new head coach
Kevin Hennessy, who replaced retired 22-year predecessor Kirk Sanocki in
late August.
“The team has done a phenomenal job working together and getting
there every morning,” Hennessy said. “It is certainly not an ideal situation
and I know the swimmers will be more than happy to get back into their
pool.”
The renovations are expected to take a long time to complete because
there are many things to repair. In addition to the outdated filtration
system, the tile ceiling that has been chipping off and falling into the pool
below is being replaced.
When finished, the updated Wingate Natatorium will have improved
air quality, more filtered water and a ceiling better suited to the
environment of an aquatic facility.
“This is a situation that is out of our control; all we can control is how
we respond to it,” Hennessy said. “The character of this team has truly
shown early this season as they have had to work together to overcome
these obstacles.”
Hennessy’s first season in charge of the Bulldog swimmers begins
Oct. 6 when Wingate travels to Charlotte for a dual meet with Queens
University.
Wingate Triangle 