Nebraska – Omaha, Ohio State and Minnesota State – Mankato are among the college swim teams flying through the Ft. Lauderdale airport today, the site of a shooting this morning. So far, sources from various teams have told SwimSwam all team members are OK.
A lone gunman opened fire in the baggage claim in terminal 2 of the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this morning. The shooting happened at about 1:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time. Multiple reports now say the shooter is in custody, though reports also list at least 5 dead and 8 injured in the shooting.
With many college swim programs returning from winter break training trips, the Fort Lauderdale airport was hosting a number of teams on their way home for the second semester. SwimSwam has already received tweets saying that the University of Nebraska – Omaha, Ohio State and Minnesota State – Mankato were either at the airport or en route to the airport when the shooting happened, but all sources currently say no swimmers from those teams were injured in the incident.
We’ll continue updating this story as we hear of more teams and get more information on the developing situation.
Also reported:
- Nebraska Omaha
- Ohio State
- Minnesota State – Mankato
- Wellesley
- Wisconsin – Green Bay
The tweets we’ve received are below. They range from the official accounts of coaches to swimmers on other teams. SwimSwam is working to officially confirm this information for all teams we’ve received information on.
@swimswamnews university of Nebraska Omaha is but they're all fine
— gabby (@gabsmorley) January 6, 2017
@swimswamnews Ohio State Men were on our way to the airport. All OK
— Mike Hulme (@CoachMikeHulme) January 6, 2017
@swimswamnews MSU-Mankato did, but they are also alright.
— k roh (@k_rohyourboat21) January 6, 2017
@swimswamnews Wellesley College was at there around the time of the shooting in the next terminal over. We are all okay
— Catherine Chen (@catocity) January 6, 2017
Prayers go out to those who lost their lives at Ft. Lauderdale airport today. The UWGB swim team is safe and hopefully we get home on time.
— Manny Hernandez (@Manny7776) January 6, 2017
Update: more teams have checked in. We’ve included Lafayette College, Elizabethtown College, Navy, Case Western and Duquesne here.
Vermont released the following statement:
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The University of Vermont women’s swimming & diving team and staff were at the Fort Lauderdale airport at the time of an incident involving gun shots this afternoon. The team and staff, who were in a different terminal from where the shooting occurred, were evacuated and all are safe.”This was a sad and tragic day in Fort Lauderdale and we appreciate all of the concern that has been expressed for the UVM Swim Team,” said Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman. “Obviously our top priority is the well being of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. I’ve been in contact throughout the day with Coach Cournoyer and am extremely thankful that all our safe. I very much appreciate Gerry’s leadership and care for our team members and look forward to welcoming them back to campus as soon as possible.”As a result of today’s events, the Catamounts will not participate in their road meet against UMBC and Howard scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. UVM was originally slated to fly from its annual training trip in Florida to Baltimore today in advance of the double dual meet.
More schools are added below:
@swimswamnews We are grateful to report that all of the members of the CWRU swimming and diving team are safe.
— Case Western Reserve (@cwru) January 7, 2017
Buffalo States Swive team is all safe. We were all emotionally affected driving past the airport this afternoon.. sending ❤️???? @swimswamnews
— Alyssa Greymont (@greymont_alyssa) January 7, 2017
@swimswamnews I believe Vermont was with my family…safe on the tarmac.
— Wittenberg Swim&Dive (@wittswim_dive) January 6, 2017
