MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 2024-25 season marked 50 years for the West Virginia University women's swimming and diving team.
Since its inception, the women's swimming and diving team has celebrated many accomplishments. Many things have changed since the program was competing in the old WVU Natatorium behind the WVU Coliseum, but one thing has remained consistent: dedication.
Members of the West Virginia University women's swimming and diving team welcomed alumni back for the team's Alumni Meet in October 2024.
A new tide swept over the anniversary year for the Mountaineers as head coach
Brent MacDonald was named the latest head coach of the Mountaineers. Despite facing many trials and tribulations, MacDonald and his coaching staff remain committed to the values and history of this program.
"To build and sustain a program with this much pride over 50 years takes a ton of great people," MacDonald said. "The hard work of a lot of great athletes went into the process of bringing WVU women's swimming and diving to what it is today. It's very inspiring and gives us a lot of confidence that we're going to continue to find the right athletes, coaches and staff to make this a program that continues to grow and succeed."
The WVU swimming and diving family is a large and dedicated one. Former head diving coach Jack Ramsey said the first thing he thinks about when it comes to the program is its overall growth.
"When I started in 1974, we were in an old rusty barge at the old Mountainlair," Ramsey said. "It was literally rusty. As divers, we would get scratched up from the rust at the bottom of the pool. If you know anything about Old Mountaineer Field and the bridges and things, there was a bridge right behind it, so people would throw snowballs through the windows right next to the diving board."
Needless to say, there is no concern about snowballs or ice puddles in the program's current home at The Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park. Having a facility like the aquatic center may seem like a small item to most, but for this program, it shows how many things have changed in 50 years.
"That was truly incredible that it came about," Ramsey said about the construction of the aquatic center. "That changed the game totally. I wish I had a pool like that when I was coaching."
For former swimmers like Lynn Kessler-Hiltajczuk, there is a lot of pride in being part of the WVU women's swimming team. Kessler-Hiltajczuk competed for the Mountaineers under head coach Kevin Gilson from 1982-86. Kessler-Hiltajczuk credited the coaching she received and the resources available that impacted her success as a Mountaineer.
"I think there were a lot of things that made us all successful during our time," Kessler-Hiltajczuk said. "We used to use the facilities building by the old football stadium. I had never seen anything like that when I was in high school. There was such a higher level when I got there that it made it easier for you to succeed."
West Virginia University swimming and diving alumni watch practice at the team's Alumni Meet in October 2024.
Even after 50 years, the strive to reach a higher level remains at an all-time high within the WVU women's swimming and diving program. That dedication remains with current student-athletes and with former student-athletes who make up the large alumni family.
As the Mountaineers look ahead to another season in the pool, the alumni remain committed to the past while embracing the future of a program aiming to compete in a highly competitive Big 12 Conference.
"I'm very proud to have been on the swim and dive team at WVU," Kessler-Hiltajczuk said. "It's framed my life in a lot of ways. I was very thankful to swim at West Virginia."
