The Women’s Swim Team of Felician University is making its mark as the University’s 15th varsity intercollegiate sport, the ninth for women. The schedule is set, and the team’s roster is expanding as swimmers are already being recruited for the 2023-24 season.

The team will use the pool run by the Rutherford Swim Association (RSA) under the guidance of assistant coaches Mike Lazzara and Chris Dunn. Both men say their vision align with President Crawford, who understands the value of bringing this program to the University. According to Head Coach Ken Berk, “The team will represent Felician University with all the ideals that it has of high athleticism and great team spirit,” adding that the coaching staff, “cares about more than just how fast players can swim.” Coach Berk says the team will build a framework for the team’s mission outside the pool. “We want to provide players with opportunities to better themselves as human beings in the outside world.”

Lazzara and Dunn swam on the Rutherford high school swim team under Coach Berk and are excited about what the pool will mean for the Felician Women’s Swim team and the extended community. They want to develop a curriculum for students who do not know how to swim or need to pick up an extra credit. The RSA hopes to have team members give swimming lessons to community children. The team also plans to take part in a fundraiser at the Jersey shore with hundreds of other athletes to fight cancer. “We want to put our feet in right away to help others, said Coach Berk

Thanks to two grants, the renovated facility will be more than ready for the Felician swim team. Coach Lazzara says the grants will be used to update doors, lighting, and security at the facility. “LED lights are being installed around the building, along with a new deck surface that is softer. The renovations are going hand in hand with the start of the Felician Swim team,” said Lazzara.

For more information on swimming, contact Head Coach Ken Berk at berkk@felician.edu.