162WINTER ORGANIZATIONS Harding Swim Club starts in 2021. KINESIOLOGY PROFESSORS J.D. AND KIMBERLY Yingling sponsored the commencement of the Harding University Swim Club. Prior to the initiation of the club, the Yinglings taught multiple swim classes at Harding. Every semester, students in the classes asked why Harding did not have a swim team. In response to these questions, Kimberly Yingling encouraged the students to start a swim club. “The swim club provides opportunities to swim competitively in college,” Kimberly Yingling said. “We talk to competitive swimmers every year who are considering Harding, but the lack of a swim team is a consideration in their final decision.” The fall 2021 swim club was not the first competitive swim organization in Harding’s history. There was a men’s collegiate swimming and diving team called the Water Buffaloes until 1988. The Water Buffaloes were Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference champions in 1976 under Coach Arnie Pylkus. According to J.D. Yingling, the team was dropped in 1988 due to Title IX considerations since there was not a women’s team. The Yinglings said that Assistant Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students Zach Neal was supportive of the idea and encouraged students to create the club. During its first year, the club started with 15 students. The Yinglings worked to raise awareness of the swim club and increase involvement as the year progressed. It was their goal for Harding’s Swim Club to provide a place for students to connect in a team atmosphere, providing social, spiritual and physical wellness growth opportunities. “We see the swim club as a way to recruit quality students to Harding University,” Kimberly Yingling said. “We hope to see it grow and thrive in the future.” The plan for the club was to continue competing against other university swim clubs. Senior Jakob Aziamov, men’s captain of the swim club, was grateful for the opportunities the swim club provided. “I love swimming,” Aziamov said. “I am excited to learn to do that better as well as be able to help others learn to swim. I am excited to see everyone’s progress as we continue organizing races.” WRITTEN BY HAYLEY KATE WEBB SWIMING TOGETHER Professors J.D. and Kimberly Yingling stand and smile. The pair recruited competitive swimmers to be part of the swim club. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall SWIM CLUB RESURFACES
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