By Lindsey Warsnak
The announcement has been made that Hastings College Athletics will be making the historic addition of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams as well as the women’s flag football team. But, for the shaping of these teams, this is only the beginning.
A nationwide search for coaches is already underway, as noted in the official announcement. The experience of these coaches will be unique as they have to build their team from the ground up, create a culture, and lay the framework for their success in the future. This is something both new and anticipated by students who will be on campus upon the emergence of these teams.
To gain a perspective on how current students feel about these new additions, Junior Alejandro Prada shared his point of view. “I was really excited because it’s fun to see your school grow and become more competitive,” Prada said when asked about his initial reaction to the announcement. “It’s great that there are new opportunities for more athletes to develop and do what they love.” When asked for one piece of advice that he would give to student-athletes joining these teams, Prada said, “Learn how to manage your time so you can do well in your sport and your classes—but also make sure you have fun.”
Hastings College already has a recent example of what it is like to build a team from scratch: the men’s volleyball team, which is currently in its opening year. Head coach Gareth Luke’s perspective offers a representation of what lies ahead for the new teams. In Luke’s first year, the biggest struggle was, “Scheduling teams to come to our campus is difficult because we are located farther away than most nearby programs,” a challenge other new teams may face.
The team’s focus, however, goes much farther beyond its schedule. When defining success for a new program, Luke says, “For me, success in a first-year program comes down to four things: retaining my athletes, building good habits, establishing clear standards, and winning.” He explained, “These pieces matter because they’re all connected… When athletes choose to remain in the program, it reflects a positive and healthy team culture.” When asked for one piece of advice Luke would give to a new coach following a similar path as himself, he said, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
The men’s volleyball team is currently in preparation for its first home games in February and March, with home scrimmages and training underway. Their inaugural season will lay the groundwork for this new phase in Hastings College athletics.
According to a report from the Hastings Tribune, each team is looking to recruit between 25 and 30 players. This will be one of the largest influxes in student population in recent years at Hastings College. We will not only see this growth in athletes, but it also means more students in classrooms and more fans in the stands.
The women’s flag football team will use Lloyd Wilson Field for practices and games. The swimming and diving teams will use the Hastings YMCA pool, as there is not one on campus. This partnership is an effective solution that will allow these teams to begin practice without delay and shows support and partnership from the Hastings community.
The new teams will be competing in the GPAC conference, similarly to other teams on campus. Hastings College, along with other NAIA schools in the country, is at the forefront of a national movement, as women’s flag football has only recently been designated as an emerging championship sport.