QU Adds Women’s and Men’s Swimming in Fall 2022

Quincy University has announced that women’s and men’s swimming will be added to QU’s varsity intercollegiate athletic programs, with an anticipated start of competition in Fall 2022.

“The United States recently won an impressive 30 Olympic medals for swimming. However, despite the remarkable number of youth swimmers in this country, some universities have eliminated swimming programs in recent years,” said Brian McGee, Ph.D., QU president. “We are proud to add women’s and men’s swimming as the thirteenth and fourteenth Olympic sports at QU and to provide new opportunities to these student-athletes.”

Swimming is a top-ten sport for high school student-athletes, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the sport has steadily grown in popularity over the past decade.

Currently, the Great Lakes Valley Conference houses ten men’s and nine women’s swimming and diving teams, with more than 400 student-athletes expected to participate in the 2022 conference championships.

In April of this year, the University of Southern Indiana announced that they will be adding swimming and diving in 2022, making them the 11th swimming member in the GLVC. QU will be the 12th institution to sponsor swimming in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, beginning in Fall 2022. QU will not sponsor diving competitions.

“We are thrilled to implement swimming as part of our sports offerings at Quincy University. This will allow us to attract new students to our campus who will represent QU in the sport they love,” said athletic director Josh Rabe. “At a time when several universities nationwide have eliminated their swimming programs, we recognize the pressing need for more opportunities for student-athletes in this Olympic sport.

QU’s swim team will practice and compete in the QU’s Health and Fitness Center Pool, an outstanding facility with the potential to host meets in the future. The newest Hawk athletic program will compete in the winter months. Fans can expect around ten events per year, including the GLVC Championships that are usually held in February.

Women’s swimming had its inaugural year at Quincy University in 2016-2017. Several personnel changes and unanticipated challenges led to the suspension of the program in 2017.

Recruitment of a new swimming coach and the inaugural class of student-athletes will begin immediately.

Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University is a small Catholic university emphasizing the sciences, liberal arts and the professions. Quincy University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult education programs integrating practical experience and Franciscan values. Faculty and advisors work with students to design customized success plans to help them graduate on time, find their passion and prepare them for life. QU is a member of NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics. For more information, please visit www.quincy.edu or contact the Office of Community Relations at (217) 228-5275 or communityrelations@quincy.edu. Quincy University. Success by Design.