Women's golf and swimming added

by SARA ARMSTRONG news editor

Lance West, director of athletics, announced Friday that women¹s golf and women¹s swimming and diving will be added as the school¹s seventeenth and eighteenth varsity sports with their first seasons beginning in the 2002-2003 academic year.

The additions were made to comply with Title IX requirements that equal scholarships be given for men and women's sports. Women's golf and swimming were chosen because of their convenience for the school as well as for the community.

"The university is constantly growing, the sports program is the same," West said. "We feel it is a win-win for everyone in the community."

While swimming and diving will be a first time addition in women's sports at Marshall, the women's golf program is one that will be brought back after twenty years. The women¹s golf program ended due to financial reasons after the 1982 season.

"I am really excited about the possibilities of resurrecting our women's golf program," Joe Feaganes, director of golf, said.

Feaganes, formerly the men's head golf coach, is now in charge of both golf programs. He said that he has already sent out recruiting letters and that since the team will be new that players will be able to play coming in instead of having to wait to play as many do at schools with long-established teams. There is no proposed schedule of tournaments yet.

"It takes a while to build your schedule just like it takes a while to build up your staple players," Feaganes said.

"We are the only Division I school in West Virginia that offers golf and we have been and will continue to be committed to keeping our talent here at home," he said. West said in a press conference the athletic department is proud that Feaganes accepted the position.

"It's going to work hand-in-hand with the men's program," Feaganes said. "I plan on spending 50 percent of my time with the women's program and 50 percent with the men."

Women's swimming and diving will be a new addition to Marshall's roster of varsity sports, but will not be the first swim team for Marshall. The university used to host a men's team, but that also was ended in 1982 due to financial reasons.

The swim team will practice in the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium located in the Henderson Center. The pool has been used by local organizations and the university for recreational purposes since the men¹s program was discontinued.

Several renovations will need to be made to prepare the pool for use by a collegiate team. The renovations are underway and are scheduled to be finished before the beginning of the 2002-2003 season.

"We have a facility that needs a lot of improvement," West said.

Kevin Klotz, assistant compliance director, has been working to ensure the proper renovations are made to the natatorium.

The major changes are the replacement of the bulkhead, filtration system and other little things that will take place over the next 12-14 months. "The major things that need to be done are being done now," Klotz said.

The nationwide search for coaches and assistant coaches for the swimming and diving teams and an assistant coach for the golf team are set to begin in early August. The goal is that all coaches will be hired by October 1.

"It's important to continue to round out our menu of programs that we offer at Marshall, in addition to continuing to provide opportunities for young women in the region to compete in athletics at the highest level."