Rockhurst University, a private Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri, announced the addition of a new men’s and women’s swimming & diving program last week.
The instituted swim & dive team, along with six other programs like men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field and competitive cheer, will begin competition in the 2023-2024 academic year. These teams will compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
Rockhurst was founded in 1910 and has received the NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for 11 consecutive years since the honor was established in 2011. In the fall of 2021, the school had an enrollment of 3,626 students, about a 27% increase from its recorded numbers five years ago.
Tuition and fees at Rockhurst total about $40,500 for a full-time undergraduate student, but the university does offer more than $30 million in scholarships and financial aid each year.
Rockhurst’s Athletics Director, Kristy Bayer, said, “We are thrilled to add sports that will enhance the student-athlete experience, provide collegiate opportunities to a new population of prospective students, and help with university enrollment initiatives. These sports have continuously appeared on interest surveys and will allow us to meet students’ needs and interests while creating opportunities for future Hawks.”
The university released a job posting for the swimming & diving head coach position around the same time as the announcement. Applicants are being accepted, and the hired candidate will be expected to use this current academic year to recruit and build the program for next year.
10 schools competed at last season’s 2022 GLVC Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The nine GLVC institutions that sponsor both men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs are Drury, University of Indianapolis, Lewis, Lindenwood, Maryville, McKendree, Missouri-St. Louis, Truman State, and William Jewell. The Missouri University of Science and Technology only offers a men’s team.
This fall, Quincy University and the University of Southern Indiana launched their men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs to compete in the GLVC this 2022-23 academic year.
“Expanding our sports offerings means that many more high school students can now confidently choose Rockhurst knowing they can play their sport and pursue their academic goals simultaneously,” Bayer said.
Rockhurst High School, a private, Jesuit, all-boys preparatory school, has a swimming & diving varsity team. Last year, the Rockhurst HS boys won the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2 State Championship. The boys will have the MSHSAA State Championships next week, Nov. 10-11.
I’d like to know where they are going to swim. They don’t have an on-campus pool and UMKC only has a 6-lane.
Rockhurst HS just acquired the old Red Bridge YMCA. The timing makes me think it may be related.
The Jesuits know how to do things right!
Quincy University also added Men’s and Women’s Swimming in thd GLVC this season!
That is fantastic news! It is great to see programs being added!