During the past summer, Hewitt’s Athletic Department announced the cancellation of Hewitt’s swim season, after a run of over twenty-five years. I talked to Coach Calungcagin to see what she had to say on the matter. She referred to the letter sent to Hewitt families, stating that the two main reasons for the decision were the lack of student participation and interest, in addition to the rapidly escalating costs of the pools that so few athletes were going to use. The good news for my fellow swimmers, who were disappointed to receive that letter, is that the swim team will be considered for the 2012-2013 school year.
I talked to two upper school students, who were both on the swim team last year, to see how they viewed the current situation and whether they would or would not join again next year. Emi Santandreu ’15 stated, “I am so devastated that they canceled the swim team; it is the only sport that I am actually good at. Also, I’m disappointed at the fact that they just canceled it without even asking who would join it; they just decided that not enough people would join it and canceled it.” When I asked her about whether she would join it next year, she said, “Definitely.”
Janae Barrett ’14 concluded, “I am sad that swimming has been cut this year, but I understand the circumstances. If swimming was to be continued next year, I would join in a heartbeat.” I am glad to know how many of my old swim teammates still wish swim was around. Even though having the swim team cut for this year was a shame, there were two new winter sports programs added for us: winter conditioning and squash. Swim has been a lot of fun and a big part in many of our lives. So, we sincerely hope that the swim team will come back soon, but, until then, bye-bye swim team.