by Casey Jones
I think to best understand this team, we need to start with the athletes themselves. They may
move to the beat of their own drum, each sharing their own wonderful histories and personalities, their interests may span from physics to forensics to creative writing, and they can at times be loud and amazingly present in and out of the pool, but one of the best parts about having the opportunity to work with these men and women is the fact that, no matter what, they’re always there for one another. In the moments of triumph and incredible success, and after the races and practices that give us important lessons that extend far beyond the chlorine filled air, these athletes love, care, and support one another without fail.
The term family gets thrown around often when describing teams and their culture, especially
those that are as unique and diverse as the Piper swimmers and divers, but under the care and attention of head coach Alex Card, nothing has become more true for the aquatic Pipers. The Hamline University swim and dive team is led by a coach that is caring and intentional for every one of his athletes. He’s intelligent, willing to learn and continue to grow and better himself for the advancement of his team. Alex wants to help cultivate and nurture every individual that steps onto the pool deck into people that can inspire, lead, and make an impact in whatever comes next after graduation.
Going into his second season at Hamline University, Alex brings with him an incredibly
successful personal career – just take a peek into his office and see the multiple NCAA trophies lining his desk. If you’re curious, his dive coach, Casey Jones, convinced him to quietly showcase his own talents alongside the amazing triumphs of his athletes; she believes it’s important for the team to see the successes of the humble man that unquestionably leads the team by example. Outside of personal hardwork and well-earned evidence of such, Alex has been fortunate enough to gain a wealth of knowledge from his time coaching at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, University of Chicago, and California Lutheran University, forging strong connections while successfully training athletes to find their stroke and own their lane, even helping some of his athletes follow in his NCAA footsteps, finding their own surreal moment on that prized podium.
In his first season alone, Alex created an environment that fostered hardwork and unbelievable
successes. Every athlete on the swim and dive team either swam or dove a personal best within the
season, most achieving this feat during the MIAC Conference Meet this past February at the University of Minnesota. Not to mention Alex successfully coached the team to break not one, not two, but seven school records throughout the season. The sprinkles on top to an already unforgettable season: sending the first athlete to the NCAA National meet in fifteen years and the women’s team placing third in the nation on the DIII CSCAA Scholar All-America list. They had a cumulative GPA of 3.79!
Safe to say, Alex Card is making waves in all the right ways at the Hamline pool.
And this is only the beginning.
Looking forward, especially into the 2023-2024 season, Alex is excited to see the community and
team continue to grow. The aquatic Pipers are feeling a little smaller this year, having graduated nine
amazing seniors last year. Their absence is felt, but their leadership and example will remain within the athletes that remain, those continuing to wear the Piper with pride. It would take more space than we’re granted to talk about all of the seniors and their many contributions to the team, in and out of the pool, throughout their four years, but I will say this:
Thank you Bennett.
Thank you George.
Thank you Sarah.
Thank you Courtney.
Thank you Cailey.
Thank you Sydney.
Thank you Julia.
Thank you Aubrey.
Thank you Julie.
Big things are coming for you all next; I can feel it. You are truly destined for great things, and I’m
so thankful to have had the privilege to become a part of your journey, even if it was only for a short time. For those that remain, those continuing to compete under our maroon flag, this is your time to shine. This is your opportunity to help push and build the team into what it will be for years to come. Your time, energy, and effort are greatly appreciated and will continue to shape this team for years to come.
All of the efforts, from Alex and the team, are helping push the team towards their ultimate goal: a
team that’s recognized on the national level for their excellence in and out of the pool. I think it’s safe to say that after only one season, Alex is well and truly on his way towards reaching his goal. It’s not a question of if;
It’s only a matter of time