Editors note: a previous version of this story which has since been removed from the site indicated that the McMaster swim team would be shut down indefinitely and that athletes would not be retaining or receiving new scholarships. This is not the case.Â
Following a complete review of the athletics department, McMaster University is in talks about changing the way the varsity swim program is run in order to, “increase efficiency.”
Although a contract has yet to be signed, negotiations are underway to have the McMaster swim team train with the nearby Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club rather than as an independent entity. It’s programming and coaching would be part of the age group program.
While negotiations are taking place, it has been confirmed that head coach Andrew Cole, who led the men’s team to one of it’s most successful finishes in CIS history back in 2014, will not be part of GHAC following the completion of the 2015-2016 season.
With much unclear, McMaster captain Dominic Walter told SwimSwam that losing Cole will have a drastic impact on the program. Walter stated that Cole was “a big reason most of the team decided to make the choice to swim for this team due to the family atmosphere he created here at Mac”
Walter said that following a meeting with the director of athletics and recreation, Glen Grunwald, Grunwald still hasn’t been able to confirm the entirety of the situation to the swimmers.
“In our meeting with the head of the athletic department he mentioned several times that plans for the future are still unclear and information could not be confirmed.”
In a phone call with SwimSwam, Grunwald stated that McMaster will continue to fund the team, that present athletic scholarships will be honoured, and that some future athletes may be given financial support as well.
Sources close to the story indicated however, that while the program might still continue in name, it will lose many of the attributes that can be credited to its success.
According to the sources, Â there will be reduced funding and athletes will have to pay for services like massage therapy, the high performance area gym, and strength trainers. In addition the athletes will no longer have access to counseling and academic mentoring (used to help athletes cope with the stress of school and swimming and learn how to prepare better). This information has yet to be confirmed with McMaster athletics.
Grunwald told SwimSwam that nothing has been confirmed yet, and the current negotiations to change the program are still ongoing.
Yes and those that have left seeking other and better programs are doing to well. 🙂
Why would anyone prospective athlete put their swim career in the hands of a mediocre program like GHAC. They don’t exactly produce champions and anyone who has shown some talent has left for other programs.
Absolutely unbelievable, completely suspicious and reeking of back room deals. This entire scheme requires transparency and the Head of Athletics and McMaster is going to have to be prepared to provide it. If it were ‘budget cuts’ that precipitated this decision, how much money is it saving the University, and how will the quality of the program be maintained? How will a privately run swim team be able to ‘guarantee the ongoing success’ of a varsity team, and if GHAC is doing it for so much less money, then exactly what is GHAC getting in return?
What next…the Running Room takes over the track program and some local martial arts centre takes over the wrestling team?
Take a deep breath.
Wait until the situation has been resolved.
I know everyone want answers yesterday but that is not always possible.
We don’t know everything yet, but what I do know, is that the people who are stepping in (GHAC ) have ties to the program, care deeply about it and will do everything in their power to not only make sure that MAC survives but that it thrives.
Disgusting, and even more disgusting is who will likely me taking over the program. Big difference between age group swimming and college swimming. Sad that these athletes will no longer have access to the same services as other varsity teams at McMaster and the other swim teams that were already stronger than them to begin with.
Good luck to those swimmers who decide to stick it out, get out now!
Travesty…… somebody with some authority needs to dig a bit deeper in to this one cause it sounds all wrong!