Sports

The Bold Type, with Commissioner Dan Butterly – June 2, 2025

Story Links Good morning to all! The past week has been a blur of energy and purpose—from watching our student-athletes compete for a championship to pushing back against proposals that could sideline the voices of conferences like ours (FCS. I-AAA, and even Group of 6). Between the Big West Baseball Championship, future […]

Published

3 weeks ago

June 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Good morning to all!

The past week has been a blur of energy and purpose—from watching our student-athletes compete for a championship to pushing back against proposals that could sideline the voices of conferences like ours (FCS. I-AAA, and even Group of 6). Between the Big West Baseball Championship, future membership discussions, NCAA governance shifts, and conference membership requirement proposals, it’s been a defining moment for reflection and resolve.

Song of the week is “Angry Young Man” from Billy Joel. The lyrics feel personal this week. I may not be angry, but I’m energized. As we face down proposals that threaten the inclusive and competitive spirit of Division I, I’m using every ounce of that piano-driven urgency to advocate for the institutions that do more with less—and do it for the right reasons.

“There’s a place in the world for the angry young man

With his working class ties and his radical plans

He refuses to bend, he refuses to crawl,

And he’s always at home with his back to the wall.

And he’s proud of his scars and the battles he’s lost,

And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on his cross

And he likes to be known as the angry young man.”

Not sure if the song title fits, but if other conference commissioners are not going to publicly voice their thoughts on the proposed future governance structure, I am the one being quoted in the media. I do so, however, on behalf of The Big West, our institutions and student-athletes. If so, it is a title well-earned.

Let’s get to The Bold Type.

CONGRATULATIONS!

To Cal Poly and UC Irvine for their performances in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship regional round. Both teams advanced to the regional final last night before falling to foes UCLA and Arizona. Find recaps about each game of the weekend here >>>

To all our student-athletes who punched tickets to the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene after successful performances in College Station, Texas, at the NCAA West Preliminaries. Read more: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

To the twenty-two Big West student-athletes representing seven member-institutions who were honored as members of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2025 Academic All-District® Softball Team. Read more >>>

To the 16 Big West women’s water polo student-athletes from six programs who were voted as ACWPC All-Americans! Read more >>>

To UC Santa Barbara senior Amelia Honer who was named an All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for the second year in a row! Read more >>>

To University of Georgia Provost S. Jack Hu who was named the new chancellor at UC Riverside on Wednesday! Read more >>>

To Hawai’i alumna and 2022 Big West Player of the Year Amber Igiede who is one of the 30 players selected for the U.S. Women’s National Team as it prepares for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), the world’s premier annual international tournament. Read more >>>

NCAA DIVISION I AND “SMALLER DIVISION I SCHOOLS” OR LESS RESOURCED – NOT LESSER

On Wednesday, Peyton Barish wrote a guest column for “Extra Points by Matt Brown”. I greatly appreciate Peyton using his voice to try to bring media attention to what is being proposed by the NCAA Working Group focused on future governance. However, as Peyton sent a note to me after the article posted seeking thoughts and feedback, I took the opportunity to respond, thank him, and clarify something in the headline.

Many Big West programs sponsor more sports than some CFP-4 peers and except for the Big 10, The Big West has, on-average, larger student bodies.

Conference	# of Schools	Total Enrollment	Avg. Enrollment per School
Big 10	14	~643,977	~45,999
SEC	16	~514,012	~32,126
ACC	15	~407,594	~27,173
Big 12	14	~285,180	~20,370
Big West	11	383,816	34,893

Yet media use of headlines like ‘smaller schools’ undermines what we do. Referring to our institutions as “Smaller Schools” diminishes all that we do to provide an outstanding education and experience for our student-athletes. As many of you are aware, many Big West institutions rank in the Top 20 public institutions in the nation. Our academic stature and large enrollments are not definable at “smaller schools”.

Additionally, we are nationally competitive in NCAA Division I, sending multiple teams to NCAA Championships and as noted last week, sending four teams to three Final Fours and winning a national championship last month. We work harder to provide for our student-athletes and athletic programs. We are not given a billion dollars by TV entities to broadcast our football games, nor can we create millions of dollars more by adding four more teams to a football playoff.

We must use our voice to continue to fight for those of us that are a little less resourced, and focus on the education and experience of our student-athletes. We are the institutions that are collegial, love to watch our student-athletes compete for their institution, and even more so watch our student-athletes earn their diploma, start a career, and come back to campus to excitedly tell us of their success and appreciation.

MEDIA REPORTS ON NCAA MATTERS AND LEGAL ISSUES

According to Sportico’s Daniel Libit, FARs’ “traditionally modest foothold is all but gone” as the industry changes, and outgoing Tennessee FAR Don Bruce notes: “Nowhere are academics in the conversation right now. And it’s really disappointing. It’s really frustrating because we [FARs] do show up for work to support student-athletes, to protect our institutions, and to preserve what we believe is worth preserving—and that is the collegiate model.” Lots more. (link)

The NCAA’s partnership extension with Genius Sports, which was announced earlier this year, comes with a caveat, according to NCAA President Charlie Baker: “For them to continue to access our data moving forward, there can’t be any sportsbook betting on negative props. So all the stuff that literally translates into a lot of the worst behavior that’s directed at young people and student-athletes generally under this agreement is going to be off the table.” (link)

Georgia President Jere Morehead tells ESPN/SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum he expects there to be more litigation after the House settlement. “I think ultimately if we don’t get a congressional solution, we may never solve this issue. But I’m hopeful that the House settlement will put some parameters around future litigation and give us a better place to litigate whatever issues some plaintiff’s attorney comes up with next. And there are plenty of plaintiffs’ attorneys that will come up with new theories. (link)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

From SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey: “I think I have a responsibility to push, and I think my [SEC] membership has a responsibility and a desire to push me. And that is a hard issue if you want to go inside what it’s like to sit in this role. I think about the responsibility I have here [to the league] and I think about the responsibility more broadly all the time. We’ll continue to try to provide perspective and information to our members and help them guide the decision. And ultimately, I recognize I’m the one who ends up typically in front of a podium explaining not just myself but ourselves. So good luck to me.” (link)

Every commissioner feels the pressure. Pressures in The Big West just feel different—and requires different courage.

LET’S CLOSE IT OUT

We continue to wait for Judge Claudia Wilken to make a decision on the proposed NCAA-House settlement. Many NCAA staff members thought it would have been last week. Some commissioners thought this week. I have been saying it will be during NACDA week, as Judge Wilken knows when major NCAA events are being conducted. Remember, she held the larger settlement hearing on the day of the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game – for nearly 6.5 hours!

That is all for this week. Be Bold. Be courageous. Take care of those that take care of our student-athletes. Have a great week.

Dan

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Sports

Harrison Adds Four to Sports Performance Staff

Story Links CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance Medgar Harrison added Assistant Sports Performance Coaches Austin Van Buskirk and Michael Fiorito and graduate assistants Alan Anderson and Austin Okruta to his staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year. “In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, […]

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9 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance Medgar Harrison added Assistant Sports Performance Coaches Austin Van Buskirk and Michael Fiorito and graduate assistants Alan Anderson and Austin Okruta to his staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.

“In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, change is both constant and necessary,” said Harrison. “Over the past 30 days, we’ve seen the departure of six valued staff members, each of whom contributed significantly to the development of our student-athletes and the success of our programs. We thank them for their dedication and wish them continued success in their next chapters. At the same time, I’m excited to announce the addition of four dynamic new professionals to our sports performance team. Each brings unique experiences, fresh energy, and a shared commitment to helping our student-athletes thrive both on and off the field. Their arrival marks a new chapter for our department—one filled with innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on performance, health, and development.

“We are moving forward with great momentum, and I am confident that this team will not only meet the demands of our growing programs but will also help shape the future of sports performance department at APSU.”

Van Buskirk remains on Harrison’s staff after serving as a volunteer assistant last season while working with the Governors. baseball and track programs.

In addition to his duties for APSU in 2024-25, Van Buskirk also served as a strength and conditioning coach for the 101st Airborne Division on Fort Campbell since July 2023, where he was attached to 1st Brigade, working alongside the 2-32 field artillery regiment and the 2-327 infantry battalions. He helped develop and coach platoon-sized element strength and conditioning programs and supported physical training leaders in managing a battalion of 600-plus soldiers, collaborated with health professional staffs, created and ran Air Assault Prep Academy within the battalion, and more.

Prior to arriving at Fort Campbell, Van Buskirk was a strength and conditioning intern at Ohio State, Aug. 2022-Jan. 2023, working with the 12 Buckeyes programs, where he led team warms ups, recovery sessions, and worked with injured student-athletes’ rehabilitation.

Van Buskirk began his career as an Air Force ROTC in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he completed a semester’s worth of coaching and programming for 80 cadets.

Van Burskirk earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green in 2021 and graduated with his master’s from Concordia of Chicago in 2023.

Fiorito comes to Clarksville after serving as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since April 2024, working alongside the Buccaneers’ head of strength and conditioning, Anthony Piroli, in Tampa Bay’s performance rehab department.

In addition, Fiorito also assisted with practice and pregame dynamic warm-up groups, utilized key performance indicators to prescribe and implement programming at the positional and individual levels, and more.

Prior to his time in Tampa, Florida, Fiorito was an Assistant Strength Coach and Recreational Center Coordinator at the New Mexico Military Institute, Jan.-April 2024, where he was responsible for the direct development and implementation of year-long performance training programs for the Broncos’ baseball, basketball, and cross country teams. He also assisted the head strength coach in the programming and execution of training programs for the football and volleyball programs.

Fiorito’s first postgraduate experience came as an NFL Bill Walsh Fellowship Strength Intern for the Buccaneers, July-Sept. 2023, where he met daily with the Director of Sports Performance Rehab, led groups through gameday and pre-game warmups and activations, and more.

He served as a graduate assistant for Toledo’s football team, Aug. 2021-June 2023, leading in-season lifts for developmental groups, trained incoming freshman and pro day athletes, and created and led high needs program for athletes to achieve better exercise technique and general mobility. He began his career as an intern for Cincinnati’s football team.

Fiorito earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State in 2021 and his master’s from Toledo in 2023.

Okruta joins Harrison’s staff after previously serving as a strength and conditioning intern for Pittsburg’s football team since Jan.

While with the Panthers’ he helped to set up and break down daily lifts, direct injured student-athletes through their return-to-play progression, demonstrating lifts and drills, and assisted in Pro Day training.

Okruta began his strength and conditioning career at the NST Sports Performace in Twinsburg, Ohio as an intern where he assisted in training, ran drills, and more.

Okruta graduated from Kent State in Aug. 2024 and currently is working towards his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification.

Anderson remains on Harrison’s staff after previously serving as a strength and conditioning coaching intern since July 2024, where he primarily worked with the Governors’ baseball, softball, and track and field programs.

Anderson served in the 101st Airborne Division, 2021-25. During his time in the Army, Anderson served as a Brigade Innovations Officer, DSSB Battalion Adjutant, TC Executive Officer, and a Maintenance Platoon Leader/Battalion Maintenance Officer.

Prior to his time on Fort Campbell, Anderson was a member of the Auburn Army ROTC, July 2019-21.

Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical activity and health in May 2021

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Sports

Ali Waldon’s fight extends off the volleyball court

TAMPA, Fla. — Like any fine-tuned athlete, Ali Waldon pays attention to the little details. She knows which one of her two ports the nurse should draw blood from. She knows what medication she’s had and which ones she needs. Waldon’s been poked and prodded so often, she’s lost count. “Sometimes it’s multiple pricks a day,” […]

Published

10 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TAMPA, Fla. — Like any fine-tuned athlete, Ali Waldon pays attention to the little details.

She knows which one of her two ports the nurse should draw blood from. She knows what medication she’s had and which ones she needs. Waldon’s been poked and prodded so often, she’s lost count.

“Sometimes it’s multiple pricks a day,” Waldon said.

What You Need To Know

Ali Waldon starred on the volleyball court at Clearwater Central Catholic where she won a state championship. She took her talents to Mercer University.

As Waldon was enjoying playing college volleyball, she began feeling intense pain in her hip. Tests revealed a cancerous tumor.

Since the diagnosis in September, Waldon’s undergone surgery and began chemotherapy treatments.

There is a method to this madness.

And a reason she must endure getting stuck with needles so often. Waldon has cancer. And she is battling this hideous disease the same way she battles on the volleyball court. Persistent hip pain turned out to be osteosarcoma. And with that cancer diagnosis in September, Waldon, and her family’s world was turned upside down.

She had to leave school and her volleyball team at Mercer University to begin treatment. She’s had surgery. She’s had doses of chemotherapy. She’s lost her hair and her eyebrows. But she hasn’t lost her drive.

“You do what you have to do to do,” she said. “Not without complaints, kind of.”

That’s the attitude of an athlete. Ali starred on the volleyball court at Clearwater Central Catholic where she helped the Marauders win a state championship in 2022. She took her talents to Mercer where she made an immediate impact for the Bears. When cancer sidelined her, Waldon’s teammates rallied around her.

But it’s Waldon who has rallied and set the tone.

“She’s handled this better than probably most adults would,” her mother Julie Rodgers said. “And has always had just a really positive attitude and just a light through all of it.”

Cancer’s shown Waldon how independent she is. It’s also shown how resilient and what a fighter she is. Ali knew she was tough. Now she’s showing cancer just how tough.

“I have a greater appreciation for all the nurses and doctors that have helped me,” she said. “I try to be an easy patient and just make their day a little bit better.”

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Sports

Alexis Brown named CWSA Honda DII Athlete of the Year

Story Links NEW YORK, NY – Alexis Brown has been named the NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda. Brown will be recognized alongside the Class of 2025 Honda Sports Award winners and […]

Published

36 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK, NY – Alexis Brown has been named the NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Brown will be recognized alongside the Class of 2025 Honda Sports Award winners and the prestigious Honda Cup recipient on a live telecast airing Monday, June 30, 2025, at 7 PM ET on CBS Sports Network from New York City.

The fastest woman in NCAA DII history, Brown was named the USTFCCCA DII National Track Athlete of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, winning the outdoor 100 and 200 meter titles and the indoor 200 meter title. She set new NCAA DII records in all three events, running 10.93 seconds in the 100, 22.35 in the outdoor 200, and 22.88 in the indoor 200. At the time of her 100 meter championship Brown had run the second fastest time in the world in that event.

Brown has won eight NCAA DII National Championships and is a 14X All-American. She has run the 10 fastest wind-legal 100 meter times in DII history, the three fastest indoor 200 meter times, three of the five fastest outdoor 200 meter times, and two of the four fastest 60 meter times. Brown becomes the fifth track and field athlete to win the award, and is the second consecutive after Minnesota State’s Denisha Cartwright won the award last year.

“This is an incredible honor for Alexis,” stated Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Bob Braman. “This goes beyond her being the greatest sprinter in DII history. Today, she’s being recognized as one of the absolute great student-athletes in the entire NCAA. Lenoir Rhyne and all of her coaches are extremely proud of her.”

Finalists for the 2025 DII Honda Athlete of the Year included Amely Bochaton (Golf, Wingate), Emilee Boyer (Softball, West Texas A&M), Olivia Henneman-Dallape (Volleyball, Ferris State), Peyton Howell (Lacrosse, Tampa), Lauren Kiley (Cross Country, Grand Valley State), Luna Mertens (Swimming & Diving, Lynn), Tara Oper (Women’s Soccer, Cal Poly Pomona), Ashleigh Simes (Tennis, Lee), Jady van Gils (Field Hockey, East Stroudsburg) and Nala Williams (Basketball, Cal State Dominguez Hills).

The CWSA, now in its 49th year, celebrates the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since its partnership began in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees, supporting the growth and success of women’s athletics programs.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.

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Royals boys volleyball suffers heartbreak in state title match | Rogers

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37 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell is the Orange County Girls Athlete of the Year – Orange County Register

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now ORANGE COUNTY GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2024-25 Name: Teagan O’Dell School: Santa Margarita Year: Senior Sports: Swimming Notable highlights: Teagan O’Dell blazed to Orange County records in six of the eight individual events as a high school swimmer. One mark also set a […]

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41 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

ORANGE COUNTY GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2024-25

Name: Teagan O’Dell

School: Santa Margarita

Year: Senior

Sports: Swimming

Notable highlights: Teagan O’Dell blazed to Orange County records in six of the eight individual events as a high school swimmer. One mark also set a national record.

But when asked to pick the record that meant the most to her, the Santa Margarita senior navigates off the board to select a team accomplishment: the 400-yard freestyle relay during her freshman year at the CIF State championships.

“I knew with the girls that we had at the school, that was going to be a very, very fast relay,” O’Dell recalled of a national record-setting relay that included Macky Hodges, Teia Salvino and Justina Kozan.

“I look back at photos and videos of that record and I was just so happy that we put our minds to it, gave it our all and we were able to get under the record. I can’t believe that it was four years ago. I’m still in contact with the girls today.”

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Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell races to a Division 1 record in the 200-yard individual medley at the CIF-SS swimming championships at Mt. SAC on Saturday, May 10, 2025. She touched in 1:53.43. (Courtesy of Alex Tolkachev)

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Relationships and racing for Santa Margarita. That’s what helped push O’Dell to a sensational high school career, which now includes her second Orange County Girls Athlete of the Year honor in three years.

This spring, the Cal-bound O’Dell set four county records as the Eagles defended their CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State titles.

O’Dell broke the school and county record of Olympian Katie McLaughlin in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 42.98 seconds. She also lowered her own county records in the 50 (22.17) and 100 freestyles (48.01), and 100 backstroke (50.82) in earning a fourth consecutive Orange County female swimmer of the year award.

O’Dell departed the high school ranks with county records in the 200 individual medley (national record 1:53.38), 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke (59.73).

The only individual county records that survived her run were Janet Evans’ legendary 500 free (4:37.30, 1988) and McLaughlin’s butterfly (51.53, 2015). Both those were national records at the time. Evans, of course, set multiple world records while attending El Dorado High.

“It’s worthy to compare (O’Dell) with the best ever (in Orange County),” former Mission Viejo Nadadores coach Terry Stoddard said.

O’Dell’s view of high school swimming often returns to her teammates and Santa Margarita co-coaches Rich and Ron Blanc.

“The relationships are always the most impactful in all areas of life,” she said. “People are what make the difference.”

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Sports

Diversity in Aquatics Expands Water Safety Initiatives to the Caribbean, Transforms Lives Across the Diaspora

Diversity in Aquatics’ World Oceans Day event on Grand Anse Beach in Grenada. A young swimmer at the World Oceans Day event by Diversity in Aquatics in Grenada. Groundbreaking Program Reaches 150+ Youths as Organization Expands Life-Saving Mission from US to Caribbean NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 20, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — In a powerful […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Diversity in Aquatics’ World Oceans Day event on Grand Anse Beach in Grenada.

A young swimmer at the World Oceans Day event by Diversity in Aquatics in Grenada.

Groundbreaking Program Reaches 150+ Youths as Organization Expands Life-Saving Mission from US to Caribbean

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 20, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — In a powerful demonstration of community-driven impact, Diversity in Aquatics (DIA) successfully launched its most enterprising international water safety initiative to date, imprinting water safety education on over 150 local children on the island of Grenada, while addressing the critical global crisis of drowning disparities affecting communities of color.

The historic World Oceans Day-timed program at Grand Anse Beach represented more than a single day of programming—it marked a pivotal moment in DIA’s expanding mission to eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in water safety education in the United States and across the African Diaspora.

“This is about more than sun and surf—it’s about empowering Grenadian youth with skills that save lives and build community,” said Dr. Miriam Lynch, Executive Director of Diversity In Aquatics. “Though having a close proximity to water, what we have realized is a lot of communities have a disconnect. In Grenada, a significant percentage of the island’s population does not know how to swim. For us, it was really important to bridge that gap to support the mission of teaching water safety while making a connection to the opportunities in aquatics with no borders.”

The comprehensive event featured ocean swim lessons, the island’s largest youth swim meet of the year, water safety workshops, CPR training, snorkeling and sailing coaching.

The organization’s latest initiative comes at a critical moment for water safety advocacy. Each year, approximately 4,000 people in the U.S. die from unintentional drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—with Black, Indigenous, and low-income communities disproportionately affected. After decades of decline, drowning rates began rising again following the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic, widening racial and ethnic disparities nationally.

Globally, the crisis is just as alarming. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 300,000 people drown annually, with children among the most at risk.

The urgency to address this issue has only increased following the Trump administration’s recent decision to disband the CDC’s drowning prevention team, leaving a gap in federal research and support. Community-based organizations like DIA have become critical to filling that gap. Its culturally grounded approach offers a proven, community-centered model for change.

“We’re not just teaching swimming skills—we’re rebuilding generational relationships with water,” said Dr. Lynch.

INNOVATIVE, TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH SETS NEW STANDARD
What distinguishes DIA’s work is its recognition of the historical trauma surrounding water in communities of color. The Grenada event featured a powerful session led by Dr. Fran Jackson of Spelman College, exploring the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade. The discussion touched on cultural disconnection, shifts in family dynamics, and the deep trauma connected to water, especially comparing experiences in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Following that, Thaddeus Gamory, founder of BlueMindfulness, took participants through a trauma-informed session of breathwork and ocean-based healing exercises inspired by ancestral water traditions. Designed for BIPOC communities, the session aimed to help people reconnect with water and begin releasing generational fears tied to that legacy.

This trauma-informed methodology, combined with practical CPR training, swim instruction and community engagement, created what local partners described as “a reclaiming of our relationship with the ocean.”

“There is so much potential for long-term impact and a seismic change in aquatics,“ said Gamory. “Everything starts with learning to swim and being safe in the water. We’re already contributing to it and the potential for it to grow is substantial – as a matter of fact, it’s already in motion.”

SCALING IMPACT THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Diversity in Aquatics has partnered with several organizations to raise awareness and expand equitable access to aquatics, working to eliminate disparities in drowning. In collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, the organization advances water safety education in historically underserved communities, breaking down systemic barriers and creating pathways for lifelong aquatic engagement.

DIA’s recent success in Grenada builds on a robust network of institutional partnerships that are reshaping aquatic education across the United States and beyond. HBCUs, too, are driving nationwide change in the water safety arena with national partnership launches including:
-$1 million, 10-year USA Swimming partnership funding programs at Cheyney University, Norfolk State, Texas Southern and other HBCUs, reaching over 2,000 students
-Howard University water polo team relaunch in 2024, supported by DIA and USA Water Polo
-Historic American Red Cross partnership establishing the first Instructor Trainer Academy at an HBCU (Bowie State University), expanding certified -instructor pipelines in underserved communities
-Annual HBCU Water Safety Festival convening students, alumni and experts for workshops and community engagement

MEASURABLE IMPACT AND FUTURE EXPANSION
The organization’s data-driven approach demonstrates tangible results:
-Over 2,000 HBCU students reached through swimming programs
-150+ youth served in 4-hour, single-day Grenada event
-Expanding Caribbean presence through local partnerships

“The most rewarding part is community and collaboration,” said Dr. Lynch. “To see people and organizations come together to give back to the youth, seeing the happy faces and proud parents has been the most rewarding for all of us.”

LOOKING AHEAD: A MOVEMENT BEYOND BORDERS
As DIA expands its reach across the Caribbean and strengthens its U.S. institutional partnerships, the organization is positioning itself as a global leader in culturally-responsive water safety education. Its success in Grenada serves as a blueprint for future international expansion while deepening impact in historically underserved communities. The organization’s holistic approach—combining practical skills training, trauma-informed healing, community partnerships, and institutional change—offers a replicable model for addressing water safety disparities worldwide.

“The tides are turning,” Dr. Lynch concluded. “Through education, community, and culturally rooted care, we’re ensuring that water isn’t a barrier—it’s a bridge to empowerment, health, and generational healing.”

About Diversity in Aquatics:
Diversity in Aquatics is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to promoting equitable access, education, and leadership in aquatic spaces. From grassroots swim lessons to institutional partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and national organizations, DIA works to eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in water safety, ensuring that all communities can safely and confidently experience the power of water.

Jordan Cross
Mel&N Media
jordan@melandnmedia.com

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