Horizon League Swimmers Reach-Out to Inner City Youth

April 8, 2003

Cleveland - Horizon League men's and women's swimming and diving coaches and student-athletes took some time off from the League Championship in March to lend a helping hand to a group of underprivileged children from the Cleveland community.

Cleveland State Men's Head Coach Wally Morton and Women's Head Coach Mike Lehto along with UW-Milwaukee Head Coach David Clark led the community service effort. Janice Splain (Cleveland Outreach Swim Club) and Lorry Wagner (PEAK Swim Team) also played key roles in the event, organizing the Clinic registration and recruitment.

Student-athletes from Horizon League schools along with the PEAK Swim Team, from nearby Brecksville, worked side by side with the Cleveland Outreach Swim Team comprised of inner city youth 12 and under.

"I felt since the Horizon League is based on the principle of community service, we needed to reach out to others," said Morton.

The student-athletes helped in and out of the water, giving much deserved individual attention to those children participating in the program. Coaches explained proper techniques while the student-athletes showed children their favorite drills and allowed the youth a chance to practice specific drills in order to help develop proper stroke technique.

"They were really excited about the opportunity to watch college swimmers and be close to them and learn from them," said Morton. "The swimmers stayed in the water for nearly two hours, after competing in the championships, to help the kids. It was a very unselfish and great contribution."

Since the outreach program in early March, there has been positive feedback from both the children and those who volunteered their time to serve.

"We had a very good response from coaches and children with many notes and thank yous. All the coaches and swimmers who participated were very excited and we received a very positive response from the volunteers," said Morton.

The success of the inaugural program has both coaches and student-athletes hopeful about future projects.

"It couldn't have worked out better," said Morton. "The program was the most significant thing I did all week. I had the opportunity to help other people and that is the best way to relax and feel good about yourself. Thinking away from your immediate needs and goals is quite refreshing."