With such an iconic picture, one would never think this women’s swimming program at notable HBCU, NC A&T, is in their last season.
Via Madame Noire, these ladies who took over the internet with their presence of strength, beauty and aquatic abilities, are now facing their last season. Head Coach, Shawn Hendrix, who has been A&T Women’s Swimming coach for the last 17 years, spoke on the unfortunate incident and the years leading up to the programs unfortunate demise.
“We actually announced three years ago that the program was going to be discontinued,” Hendrix said. “So this is the actual last year. They’re replacing our sport with golf.”
“When the new AD came in, after his first year, he decided to bring golf in and let swimming go,” Hendrix said. “That year, I had recruited like nine swimmers. So I said to him, it’s going to take you a while to A) get a coach, B) have that coach recruit if you’re going to be competitive, so why not allow us to finish out these three years? So we were able to finish with a high graduation rate with the sport. These kids have committed to us, and they don’t have to transfer because they were here on scholarship. So he agreed to it, and he kept his word. That’s kind of how it went.”
While most would think that money would be the issue, but according to Hendrix, its just the way the ball is played with college athletics.
“They did everything they could the three years we had to be active and they tried to find support to keep it,” Hendrix said. “But what I’m most proud of is them accepting that, okay, this is it, but not having the ‘poor me’ syndrome and just really working hard and being positive. They call themselves ‘The Last of a Dying Breed,’ I call them my ‘Legacy Ladies [laughs].’ They’re holding their heads high. They’re going out determined to break school records, so it’s been a lot of fun to coach them.”
On February 6, against Howard will be the last HBCU women’s swim meet. Hopefully people will turn up to support these amazing women who have defied odds for 17 years despite constant threats to their programs. While their program may be dismantled, what they started and the image of a strong black women they displayed, will forever be honored. Fighting stereotypes are already exhausting. These ladies exhibited what it means to be “Black Girl Magic”.
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