by McKenna Hultgren
Charlie King is the head coach of Minnesota State University Moorhead and has been coaching for a span of 25 years. The swim team program consists of only a women’s team and has achieved remarkable accomplishments under Coach Kings guidance and leadership. The women’s team has consistently been recognized as an Academic All-American Team every semester, showcasing their commitment to academic excellence. In addition, the team has been steadily making progress on the record board, constantly setting the bar higher than previous records. Over the past few years, they have exceeded expectations by securing higher placements in the conference than what was initially predicted. Recently, Minnesota State University Moorhead came across a huge milestone for the team with the upcoming induction of their first MSUM Hall of Fame athlete, Ann Gusewelle, this fall school year.
The coaching staff at Minnesota State University Moorhead has diligently focused on establishing a strong team culture that will have a lasting impact. As the team looks towards the upcoming season, they anticipate significant contributions from their entire group of upperclassmen. These experienced athletes will not only provide leadership but also contribute to scoring points and impart valuable lessons to the younger members of the team. The coaching staff at Minnesota State University Moorhead believes that every team member has the potential to make an impact, whether it be positive or negative. “In this sport, there are no shortcuts, and each individual is expected to find ways to contribute positively, even if they may not be scoring points directly.”
This year, the women’s team has an incoming class consisting of 13 highly skilled and talented first-year students. The team’s proactive use of social media has helped establish early connections and engagement throughout the summer with the swimmers and divers, leading them to have a closer connection with each other before the season even starts.
When the coaches search for new student athletes on their team, they look for individuals who make great teammates and are eager to get better. At Minnesota State University Moorhead, the coaches want individuals who pay attention and focus on every detail of their swimming or diving and ultimately want people who are able to dig into the little things that can have a huge impact.
The program’s culture can be described as close-knit with extreme camaraderie while emphasizing mutual support, genuine friendships, and a sense of responsibility towards each other. The team firmly believes in making the most of the time spent together. Academic excellence is highly valued at Minnesota State University Moorhead as well, as it contributes to the growth and development of everyone.
One of the unique aspects of the women’s program at MSUM is their commitment to staying up to date with the latest trends and techniques in swimming. The program continuously analyzes what is making swimmers fast in the current time and evaluates if those strategies can be incorporated into the training in the program itself. Rather than solely focusing on the simple things in a swimmer’s technique, coaches at MSUM prioritize breaking down each swimmer’s technique to identify areas for improvement and create personalized plans for their progress.
At the Minnesota State University Moorhead swimming program, the team has dedicated significant attention to mental health education within their program. Every year, the team introduces new elements to enhance mental well-being. One particularly successful aspect has been the team’s weekly mental health check-ins. “Before their weight training and morning swim sessions, each athlete completes a brief worksheet, taking 1-4 minutes, to assess their mental state. Based on their responses, they select a tailored 5- to 10-minute guided meditation or mindfulness activity that aligns with their current needs.” This practice not only helps the coaches understand where each athlete is emotionally on a weekly basis but also encourages them to explore and incorporate mindfulness into their routine.
The women’s team at Minnesota State University Moorhead is excited for the upcoming season ahead and is looking forward to creating a strong athletic and academic culture on the team while striving to be the best they can be all season long.