Drew University Adds Collegiate Diving Program to Athletic Line Up

As Drew University celebrates the 20th anniversary of its swimming program, its athletic department is excited to announce the addition of a collegiate diving program at Drew.

For the first time ever, swimming and diving will be offered to student-athletes at Drew University, and participants will be able to compete in both events for points at the Landmark Conference competitions and championships.

“There is great excitement surrounding the Drew swimming and diving program this season,” said Athletic Director Jason Fein. “For the first time, we will offer top-of-the-line equipment to train divers, which has already attracted talented new recruits to the program. It expands our already dynamic roster and boosts our presence at one of the biggest meets of the season, the Landmark Conference Championships.”

Drew has also selected its first diving coach, Kayla Spinelli, a volunteer coach who was a diver at Bethany College. Spinelli coaches swimming and diving for youth for the Township of Maplewood, New Jersey.

“It’s a really exciting thing,” said Spinelli, adding that many athletes come to diving after participating in other sports, including swimming, gymnastics, dance, and even skateboarding. “It can be for anyone.”

Regulation diving boards have been installed at Drew’s F.M. Kirby Pool for athletes to train in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events at swim meets during the Rangers’ upcoming season. The new diving boards are FINA approved. FINA, which stands for Fédération Internationale de Natation, is the world governing body for aquatic sports.

Previously, when Drew swimmers competed in the Landmark Championships, the team was not able to compete in diving events and, thus, could not score as many points as colleges who did. “We were giving away opportunities to our athletes,” said Drew Swimming Coach Eric Scheingoltz. “Getting the diving program up and running allows our program to expand and grow. The first thing it does is allow our meets to be complete; we won’t be giving up points in two events.”

The Landmark Conference began in 2007 with just one diving program. Drew University becomes the sixth school out of nine in the conference to offer diving to students.

Scheingoltz said Drew plans to enter its first team of divers at a dual meet in November. So far, Drew will begin its season with a team of women divers but hopes to recruit additional student-athletes, particularly men.

“It’s a really unique athletic experience,” said Scheingoltz. “It takes a lot of effort, of strength and power. It’s beautiful and graceful. You have to have body control and body awareness. There’s a very artistic side to it.”

The Drew swimming and diving team begins its 2014–15 season on Saturday, Oct. 25, with a home meet against King’s (Pa.) College at 1 p.m. The F.M. Kirby Pool, an eight-lane NCAA competitive pool, is located in the Simon Forum.

About Drew University

Drew University is a private, liberal arts university located in Madison, New Jersey, in the New York City metro area. Ranked among the top liberal arts institutions nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Washington Monthly, Drew is also listed in Princeton Review’s Best 379 Colleges.

The Drew promise—We Deliver Full-Impact Learning to the World—emphasizes the university’s commitment to borderless education that enables a student’s greatest success in a globally connected world. Drew has a total student enrollment of more than 2,000 in three schools: the College of Liberal Arts, the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, and the Drew Theological School.

The undergraduate program offers degrees in 30 different disciplines, while Caspersen and the Theological School offer degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels.

Information courtesy of Elizabeth Moore