For more than 20 years, the University of Oregon’s club swim team has quietly built one of the most welcoming and committed communities for student-athletes on campus. Run by the students and fueled by close-knit relationships, the UO Swim Club is proof the competition doesn’t have to come at the cost of fun.
For many swimmers, the path to the pool was predetermined. First-year Ava Kloster, a butterfly specialist who competes in both 50 and 100 fly, grew up watching her older brother swim and followed in his wake. After trading high school cheerleading for a cap and goggles in college, she joined the swim team to rebuild her endurance and the goal to reclaim her competitive 100 fly. Just ten weeks into her first season, and she’s already hitting her goals.
Sydney Ashton, another first-year in the program, competes in the 50 and 100 breaststroke and shares a similar story. Like Kloster, she grew up with an older brother in the sport and now finds herself rediscovering swimming in a less rigid, more fostering and friendly environment.
Other swimmers have a bit of a different story. Second-year swimmer Kai Paasch competes primarily in distance events like the 500 and 1000 free, 200 breaststroke, and 400 individual medley. He grew up with swimmer parents and admits that he “hated it at first,” but has found peace and enjoyment with the Swim Club. Now, Paasch competes with the goal of making nationals this year and remembers to check in with himself rather than face burnout. “You’re always gauging how you feel in swimming,” he said.
The club is led by swimmers who bring experience as well. Will Pariso, the third-year secretary, started out as a recreational swimmer. He now competes in the 50 free and is also aiming to make nationals this season. Parisol’s personal goal is to hit a personal record every time he competes, but “Never let the outcome affect how I approach the next competition.”
Another experienced swimmer is Abby Tomlinson, the third-year Meet Coordinator, who is described by her teammates as a “Jack of all trades.” With all the meet coordinating, she hasn’t been as active in her 100 individual medley, but originally found her love for swimming in her hometown of Hood River, where she was “surrounded by water.”
The team is unique because it thrives on inclusivity and welcomes all types of swimmers, but the leadership extends far beyond what’s accomplished in the water. Practices are coached and structured, but the responsibility of coordinating meets, managing finances, putting out team surveys and keeping morale high is upheld entirely by the students. Luckily, the morale for the team is always high, fueled especially by their mascot, Jean-Paul the Labubu, who has a handcrafted crochet sweater and is awarded for good behavior after meets.
The club’s guiding principle is heartwarming; they always aim to be “First in Fun,” regardless of results. This ethos guided them on a 32-hour road trip for a meet in Irvine, California, where they admittedly didn’t hit their goals, but the memories of the trip are still important to the team.
The team emphasizes personal and collective growth, and they enter each season with the intention to support as many swimmers as they can in getting to the CSS Nationals in the spring. The advice the team has for students who may be interested in joining is to simply“show up.” Whether you’re chasing a national title or just starting out, there’s always a lane for you with the UO Swim Club.
