By Braden Keith on SwimSwam
Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana has cut its men’s and women’s swimming programs. Swimmers and their families were informed on Friday, March 20, while key donors received a separate email about the decision.
The program was relatively new, competing for the first time in 2018-2019.
The email to donors, signed by Vice President for Athletics Mark Shook, read in part:
I am writing to let you know that Hanover College has made the difficult and necessary decision to discontinue its men’s and women’s swimming programs, effective immediately. This decision follows several years of sustained challenges, including facility maintenance concerns, projected increases in operational costs, and declining roster size. Together, these factors limit our ability to provide the competitive, championship‑level experience we expect for our student‑athletes.
Since competition began in 2018, Hanover swimmers and coaches represented the College with pride and professionalism. We are grateful to inaugural head coach Blake Braden (2018–22) and to head coach Jay Crawford for their leadership and commitment. This decision does not reflect the effort, dedication, or character of our coaches or student‑athletes.
Shook cited the lack of a facility as a “persistent challenge.”
“The team relied on off‑site facilities, including Southwestern (Ind.) High School and other pools 15 to 40 minutes from campus,” he wrote. “Access was periodically limited by maintenance and availability.”
He also cited lower roster numbers post-COVID, saying the team averaged 11 swimmers per gender.
The men’s roster currently list 5 swimmers and the women’s roster currently lists 8 swimmers.
One member of the team, Anna Williams, told SwimSwam that the news has “caused shock across Hanover College Athletics and has hurt our community.”
“Many sports fear they might be cut next. We feel this decision betrays Hanover’s community values and has caused fear among athletes. Hanover Swimming, one of three female-dominated programs, was significantly effected. The reduction in opportunities for women was much greater than for men.”
The school’s most recent reporting of EADA data for the 2023-2024 season lists full-time undergraduate enrollments at 952, with a nearly-equal distribution between men and women.
Unduplicated, that data lists over half the student body (497) as student-athletes, with 317 of those (63%) being men.
“Our small but vibrant team, which was expected to double next season, is considered one of the friendliest in the conference,” Williams continued. “Our team means a lot to the Hanover community and our conference. I believe this decision wasn’t fully thought out, and we hope to find time to preserve this cherished program.”
Other teammates shared their thoughts with SwimSwam as well, anonymously:
“Swimming is not something I do lightly; it is central to who I am. This sport has taught me resilience, confidence, and given me a sense of purpose. While the swim team at Hanover is still growing, it is unlike any other program. The sense of family that the swim team cultivates is truly astounding.” “I chose Hanover because of this team, and they have become my family. Right now, that is being taken away without warning or consideration.” “The abruptness of this decision was devastating. It feels like there was no communication that this decision was even under discussion.”Members of the team have been trying to set up meetings with Shook, but say that they have so far been unsuccessful.
Hanover is an NCAA Division III program that competes in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Founded in 1827, it is Indiana’s oldest private college. The school had 23 intercollegiate varsity athletic programs before the swimming program was cut.
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