As an alumnus of Ohio University, a former swimmer for the Bobcat team and a parent of a current swimmer on the team, I wanted to write a letter in response to The Post’s Sunday, Nov. 23 article (Swimming-Bobcats stumble, finish sixth at H2Okie Invitational).
As an alumnus of Ohio University, a former swimmer for the Bobcat team and a parent of a current swimmer on the team, I wanted to write a letter in response to The Post’s Sunday, Nov. 23 article (Swimming-Bobcats stumble, finish sixth at H2Okie Invitational).
With the help of current head coach Rachel Komisarz-Baugh, who took over just eight months ago amidst controversy and turmoil, this team is definitely on the upswing. Although the Hokie Invitational meet the girls attended last weekend at Virginia Tech is the same meet they attended in 2013, the level of competition at the meet this year was much higher, including an additional team from the SEC who was not there last year. Reviewing the meet results strictly on times shows that the girls actually performed better this year than last. And, if you look at the OU girls' times compared to times from other teams in the MAC, our girls are actually ranked higher than they were one year ago.
This is a team of girls who have overcome an unbelievable amount of adversity over the past 12 months. The team is on their third head coach in less than two years and is recovering from misfortune and injury. I am proud to support this program and their progress and I'm excited about where they are now and the direction their coaches are taking them in. It takes time to build a program and in time, this team will be back on top. Girls: Hold your heads up high. Don't let negativity and ignorance hold you back. Be proud of your accomplishments and GO ’CATS!
Shannon Hayes-Clark is a 1989 Ohio University alumnus.
