The Scots are back and ready to make a splash. On Sept. 28, Macalester’s swim & dive teams hosted their annual Alumni Swim & Dive Meet.
The event was part of the weekend’s MacFest, a celebration that brought Macalester students, families, faculty, staff and alumni to honor Macalester’s 150th anniversary and the beginning of a new academic year.
Each year, the team hosts an alumni meet in which previous Mac athletes return to campus to swim against current athletes. This year’s meet was the first of the new season, hoping to bring athletes back into competition mode (their next meet will be against Luther College in Decorah, Iowa on Oct. 18).
The event had a playfully competitive atmosphere, with some alumni returning to protect their records. Current Scots were assigned to swim several different 50-meter and 100-meter events, while alumni swimmers could choose which races they would participate in. In the stands, families, friends and prospective students were invited to cheer on the team.
Head Coach Kyllian Griffin, who has been with the team since 2018, says the meet helps current swimmers see that their connection to the sport doesn’t have to end once they leave Macalester.
“It shows our athletes that you can keep doing this beyond the four years you’re here,” Griffin said.
This year, the meet featured someone special.
Diver Rich Blakeman ’76, who was on the Macalester team from 1972–1974 (but hadn’t touched a diving board in over 40 years), participated in the competition to celebrate his 70th birthday and to raise money for Minnesota’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), run by his friend Sue Abderholden ’76.
NAMI strives to provide support for people affected by mental illness, working to spread education and awareness on the issue. Through the meet, Blakeman was able to raise over $4,500 for the organization.
Griffin sees Blakeman’s cause as immensely important, especially in the context of sports.
“Mental health is a big part of athletic performance,” Griffin said.
For many of the first-years on the team, the alumni meet is an exciting kickoff to their first Macalester season. Amalia Shields ’28 says she already feels a sense of camaraderie with her teammates.
“Everyone is super welcoming and inviting,” she said.
For the team’s upperclassmen, the meet is a chance to see old friends. Senior Captain Ben Lewin ’25 views it as an opportunity to reconnect with teammates he once swam with, while also giving him hope that he can remain connected with the team after he graduates.
“It feels like being a part of the team does not end,” Lewin said.
As for the 2024 season, the team is seeing larger numbers than ever before. There are more than 60 swimmers, compared to 47 last year. Its bigger size does not take away from the team’s strong bond.
“It’s a very supportive environment and everyone is excited to root for each other,” Shields said.
