Members Of Wittenberg Swimming And Diving Teams Make A Difference During Summer Travels

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Back row, from left: Matt Higbee, Amy Prugh, Neil Anderson. Front row, from left: Conor O'Rourke, Kristen Elber and Pat Deering. Not pictures: Kayleigh Alexander

Springfield, Ohio — After enjoying yet another successful season in 2007-08, members of the Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams achieved just as much away from the pool last summer. An astounding seven team members traveled independently across the globe in 2008, serving others, furthering their education and immersing themselves in cultures from Europe to Central America to Asia.

Conor O'Rourke, class of 2011 from Mendham, N.J., traveled to Cap Haitien, Haiti, for a fourth consecutive summer with a program called Project Pierre Toussaint (PPT), an 11-year-old organization dedicated to helping the street boys of Haiti's second largest city.

"Many of these boys were orphaned, or their families could no longer take care of them," O'Rourke said. "Boys as young as six years old are left to literally fight for their lives, food and a place on the street to sleep."

O'Rourke's job was to educate, offer guidance to the boys, and teach them how to become honorable members of Haitian society.

"Along with five other close friends, I helped establish a sports camp for the boys of Pierre Toussaint, giving them something fun to do over the summer as well as establish good sportsmanship," O'Rourke said. "This was the second annual PPT Sports camp, and we had over 100 campers in attendance."

O'Rourke and other members of the Wittenberg swim team, as well as other campus groups, coordinated the donation of old sneakers and soccer cleats for the boys to use.

"I have been involved with the project now for four years," O'Rourke said. "Every year I return to see the smiling faces of the boys of Project Pierre Toussaint. Some are new faces but many are older and recognize me every year as I recognize them.

"I have been privileged to watch these young men grow from boys living on the streets, into respected members of society. I have seen them grow not only physically but mentally, emotionally and morally."

Other team members have followed the same path, visiting other countries to not only enhance their education but to build relationships across cultures. Pat Deering, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, spent the first month of his summer vacation studying in Russia, splitting most of his time between the historic cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Deering attended various lectures with professors from Moscow State, important city leaders, artists, architects and others. In addition to meeting new Wittenberg students and interacting with professors in a "non-classroom" environment, he built relationships with a "great group of Russian college students."

Amy Prugh, class of 2010 from Indianapolis, Ind., and Neil Anderson, class of 2010 from Lakewood, Ohio, traveled to Japan last summer knowing little about the culture. Prugh spent four weeks in Tokyo and her last weekend in Kyoto but feels that she only "scratched the surface" of the full Japanese culture. Anderson could not believe how welcoming the Japanese were and the high level of respect they have for fellow human beings. He said that he plans to continue that theme in his own life at Wittenberg.

Matt Higbee, class of 2011 from Upper Arlington, Ohio, and Kristin Elber, class of 2010 from Brunswick, Ohio, spent part of their summer traveling in Germany, individually visiting such places as the Marienkirche, where Martin Luther preached, Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig, and working on service projects. Not surprisingly, they even swam in the Baltic Sea.

Elber also took advantage of an opportunity to train with a German swim team - ironically based at the "other" Wittenberg, the historic city where Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses. She found training with people who yell things in a different language challenging.

"If there's one thing that holds true, swimming is a universal language and it's obvious we share a universal bond," she said.

Kayleigh Alexander, class of 2011 from Cincinnati, Ohio, spent the first part of her summer with a church group in Guatemala. She did volunteer work in elementary schools, singing songs and making friendship bracelets. Seeing the poverty made her sad but gave her the feeling that she could make a difference.

Wittenberg Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Head Coach Natalie Koukis said she is honored to be coaching student-athletes who are leaders in and out of the pool.

"I am very proud of our team members for exploring beyond their comfort zone," said Koukis, who has been at Wittenberg since 2004. "I think it is so important for student-athletes to get the most of their time here at Wittenberg, including experiencing cultures beyond our own. I am excited to have them bring a new perspective to our team and help create a tradition that includes thinking outside the box."