Triathlon Community,
My name is Hailey Nievergelt & I am the daughter of former professional triathlete, Juli Nievergelt. Having been raised around the sport of triathlon, compassion and love of sport is in my blood. I took my passion and put it in the pool. I was fortunate enough to end up swimming Division 1 at the College of Charleston, in South Carolina. What I did not expect to happen as a collegiate athlete was to find a family, a team is unlike any other. As a senior, over the past three and a half years, I have made a ‘family’ of goofs, geniuses, first-rate athletes, artists, competitors, idealists, motivators, coaches, advice-givers, my best friends. These people are more than my teammates- they are my life-long comrades. If I could wish anything for the next generation of college swimmers and divers, I would wish they could have the same experience I have been fortunate enough to have.
On, November 6, 2014, in a tear-filled meeting, my wish was threatened when the team received the news that the College of Charleston Department of Athletics is considering disbandment of the teams due to costly repairs of the Stern Center Pool facility. While I will be able to end my swimming career as a Cougar, it breaks my heart to think that current recruits, prospective athletes, and unknowing young swimmers who would one day realize that CofC is for them, will not be able to have the life-changing college experience which I have been afforded.
Moreover, Stern Center is the only pool accessible to students, faculty, and staff at the College. Shutting down the pool would not only dissolve a team, but also drown a fitness opportunity for many novice swimmers. With a mere six months before the proposed repurposing of the pool, swimmers are faced with finding a new home, the college faces losing an amazing team, and students face losing a recreation opportunity. There is hope though; the Athletic Director alluded to the possibility of keeping the program and the facility should adequate money be raised.
I ask that anyone reading this, sign this petition in attempt to save our pool and team. I ask that you rally behind us in demonstrating, to the Athletic department, the amount of heart, competitive sprit, and love for the team and sport embodied in this group of people. I ask that you sign this petition to extend the possibility that young athletes will, one day, be able to find the family they never knew they had as a CofC swimmer or diver. I also encourage anyone who wants to voice their opinions to people in a position of power in the situation to contact the President of the College, and the head of the Athletic Department, Joe Hull. We appreciate every ounce of support we have received & we are determined to fight this battle until the end.
Glenn McConnell:
Office Address: Randolph Hall 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843.953.5500
E-mail: president@cofc.edu
Joe Hull: Athletic Director
Office Address: 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843.953.5546
E-mail: hulljj@cofc.edu
https://www.change.org/p/the-college-of-charleston-department-of-athletics-reevaluate-the-disbandment-of-the-men-s-and-women-s-swimming-and-diving-teams
Thank you for your support, & please help us fight this battle!
Sincerely,
Hailey Nievergelt
Class of 2015
My name is Hailey Nievergelt & I am the daughter of former professional triathlete, Juli Nievergelt. Having been raised around the sport of triathlon, compassion and love of sport is in my blood. I took my passion and put it in the pool. I was fortunate enough to end up swimming Division 1 at the College of Charleston, in South Carolina. What I did not expect to happen as a collegiate athlete was to find a family, a team is unlike any other. As a senior, over the past three and a half years, I have made a ‘family’ of goofs, geniuses, first-rate athletes, artists, competitors, idealists, motivators, coaches, advice-givers, my best friends. These people are more than my teammates- they are my life-long comrades. If I could wish anything for the next generation of college swimmers and divers, I would wish they could have the same experience I have been fortunate enough to have.
On, November 6, 2014, in a tear-filled meeting, my wish was threatened when the team received the news that the College of Charleston Department of Athletics is considering disbandment of the teams due to costly repairs of the Stern Center Pool facility. While I will be able to end my swimming career as a Cougar, it breaks my heart to think that current recruits, prospective athletes, and unknowing young swimmers who would one day realize that CofC is for them, will not be able to have the life-changing college experience which I have been afforded.
Moreover, Stern Center is the only pool accessible to students, faculty, and staff at the College. Shutting down the pool would not only dissolve a team, but also drown a fitness opportunity for many novice swimmers. With a mere six months before the proposed repurposing of the pool, swimmers are faced with finding a new home, the college faces losing an amazing team, and students face losing a recreation opportunity. There is hope though; the Athletic Director alluded to the possibility of keeping the program and the facility should adequate money be raised.
I ask that anyone reading this, sign this petition in attempt to save our pool and team. I ask that you rally behind us in demonstrating, to the Athletic department, the amount of heart, competitive sprit, and love for the team and sport embodied in this group of people. I ask that you sign this petition to extend the possibility that young athletes will, one day, be able to find the family they never knew they had as a CofC swimmer or diver. I also encourage anyone who wants to voice their opinions to people in a position of power in the situation to contact the President of the College, and the head of the Athletic Department, Joe Hull. We appreciate every ounce of support we have received & we are determined to fight this battle until the end.
Glenn McConnell:
Office Address: Randolph Hall 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843.953.5500
E-mail: president@cofc.edu
Joe Hull: Athletic Director
Office Address: 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843.953.5546
E-mail: hulljj@cofc.edu
https://www.change.org/p/the-college-of-charleston-department-of-athletics-reevaluate-the-disbandment-of-the-men-s-and-women-s-swimming-and-diving-teams
Thank you for your support, & please help us fight this battle!
Sincerely,
Hailey Nievergelt
Class of 2015
Last edited by:
NIEVERGELTHB: Nov 12, 14 15:10