Division I William & Mary — located in Williamsburg, VA — is exploring funding options for a new $25 million natatorium, according to the school’s recently-released strategic plan that runs through 2025.
The Tribe’s swim teams currently “share space” in the college’s Recreation Center with recreational sports, and the facility lacks a diving well and a dedicated team locker room. There is also limited spectator space. The school states that a new facility is “important to continue the team’s success at the current CAA Championship level and to serve as a springboard for meeting the program’s ambitions at the NCAA Championship meet level.”
The school currently has an 8-lane, 25-yard pool. The stated plans involve pursuing a 50-meter pool that would not only improve training conditions for the varsity team, but open up additional opportunities for recreational programming, and other “revenue-generating” events.
Although the project was included in the school’s recent “For the Bold” fundraising campaign, it did not receive the necessary funding, according to the strategic plan. William & Mary plans to look at funding options outside of that camp next several months. It is anticipated that approximately $25 million will be necessary to fully fund the desired facility and an additional $1 million in annual funding to maintain the facility.
The Tribe’s women’s team has won three CAA championships (2007, 2016 and 2017), while the men have won the last five seasons straight.
Somewhere out there BYU is saying “just do a 43 yard pool”
You’re giving them too much credit – it’s only 42 yards long ;-P
I love seeing pools being built. Hope it happens
Awesome news for W&M swim team! It’s such a great program with the current facility, but the school and the town of Williamsburg could use a new pool. They should explore a partnership similar to VaTech or West Virginia U.
This is certainly great news for the swim teams, but I wouldn’t get hopes up yet. The original version of the strategic plan included this statement, “[W&M’s] pool is not Olympic length..This project was included in the goals for the university’s For the Bold campaign, but funds have not yet been identified. Without this… it will be difficult to maintain a D-I program.”
Just a few weeks ago it seemed as if the new AD was ready to axe the swim teams despite their success. Hopefully the change in language means potential donors have been identified.
Ready to axe the swim teams??? That’s quite a statement to throw out there. Care to elaborate?
SWIMMOM, there was some poor word choice in the original version of the strategic plan that caused the misunderstanding that the swim team was not supported by the new AD and could be in danger. This thankfully turned out NOT to be true, and the plan has since been revised to reflect support for the swim team and hopefully a new pool!
Hope support can be found to fund this project!! Having diving plus 50M training opportunities would be huge for the program!! Thanks for taking the time to clarify 👍
Excellent.
This would be awesome. Great program and school. Hope it comes to fruition.
Only half of what mason “needs”!!
Mason has a tremendous facility already!
Good luck!