The women’s swim team at Division III Sweet Briar College has swum it’s last meet, with not just the swimming program, but the entire university being shut down at the end of the school year.
Last week, the athletics teams at the all-women’s school got together one last time to celebrate their accomplishments for the season, and Donna Hodgert’s swim team made sure that the team didn’t go down without a rumble.
Above, Kiersten Garcia and the Vixens of Sweet Briar College share 14 ways to use a parka (hint: only one of them is as a plain old parka).
The team was started by Bonnie Kester, who came to Sweet Briar in 1977 to help design the pool and start the team. Kester’s other claim-to-fame is that she was in the first class of women to swim varsity at Yale.
Kester held some position with the college for 37 years, only retiring in 2014.
To read more about the closing at Sweet Briar, click here.
WE SAVED SWEET BRIAR!!!!!!!!! WE AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE, ODAC!!!!!
HOLLA HOLLA SWEET SWIM!!!!!!! ^.^ WE WON!!!!
Love this – when not being used for French fries and building forts, I know you will all cherish your parkas if the school closes. As a Sweet Briar alum we are all devastated. The athletic department has always been a source of pride for the school. I was on campus last weekend and got to check out the athletic facilities – brought back a lot of memories – what a shame! #savesweetbriar
I love the video and the spirit of these ladies! Don’t give up hope.
Just to clarify, Sweet Briar Swimming has had a few other amazing coaches. I swam there from ’85-’89. Bonnie was on sabbatical for two years so we had Eric Rudenshold (sp?). Bonnie came back for a few years then became AD and someone else, I cannot recall her name, came in for a few years. Then Alex Khun arrived followed by Jason Gallaher – great assets to the program. Jason was conference coach of the year a few times. Lastly, I can along and am so glad I had the opportunity, if only for a year, to be back at my alma mater. As bad as this year has been with the closing, I would not have traded it for… Read more »
Parkas make good parachutes too.
Best wishes for continued success, ladies. Keep the faith!
I remember Bonnie from my years at Mary Baldwin as the coach. She was a class act and Sweet Briar was the pride of the conference. I’m shocked to hear they are shutting down the school. SHOCKED!
I LOVE THESE LADIES!!! Holla Holla Sweet Swim! Those parkas have a crazy wonderful past, let me tell ya! haha but first…
A. Sweet Briar has had a few Head Coaches in it’s past, actually. From ’07-’09 it was Alex Kuhn, then from ’09-’14 it was Jason Gallaher (J-Man, J-Bird, J-Money, etc. lol). Jason was also head coach from ’04-’06 (something like that).
B. Bonnie Kestner is the best! She has always been on that pool deck coaching her heart out and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body (unless you breath off your turns lol). Her husband actually designed the pool. 😉
C. Visit Savingsweetbriar.com to get the facts about the whole “closing the college” ordeal. Or… Read more »
Such a sad issue. I hope the alumnae attempt to save the school works. Stay strong vixens! And know your Hollins sisters are behind you!