Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Despite over 500 American colleges and universities that has varsity swimming teams [see partial list below], there are only a handful of collegiate coaches who enjoy, focus on, and study the sport of open water swimming.

While USC’s Catherine Vogt and Southern Illinois University’s Rick Walker are the most often appointed head coaches of the USA Swimming national open water teams since the 1990s, and coaches like Jack Fabian and Seth Huston are always developing athletes into astute open water strategists, an emerging de facto dean of the open water-oriented collegiate coaches is University of Tennessee’s Tyler Fenwick.

Vogt, Walker and Fenwick are among coaches who are just as comfortable discussing NCAA recruiting regulations, breakouts and split times as they are teaching about open water swimming positioning, drafting, sighting, physicality, navigational IQ, feeding, glow sticks, lanolin, hypothermia, hyperthermia, afterdrop, hallucinations, bacterial infections, nausea, and jellyfish stings.

Fenwick is now preparing for a high-level, high-altitude training camp for world-class distance swimmers at Colorado Springs, Colorado. With all the resources and venues at his disposal, Fenwick’s camp is like a supercharged Battle Training distance camp in Germany, originally created by Dirk Lange.

From May 18th to June 8th, Fenwick will coach many of the top open water athletes in the USA, Canada, Tunisia and Australia using the high-tech pool at the United States Olympic Training Center as well as utilizing local lakes for his intense training plans. “I love open water swimming,” Fenwick readily admits. “I’m constantly trying to find ways to promote the sport and get swimmers excited about open water. The opportunity presented itself to bring some of the top distance swimmers in the world together and I jumped at it. It should be a fantastic camp. Some of the sport’s best ambassadors will be in Colorado.”

Anchored by open water specialists Alex Meyer, David Heron, Ous Mellouli, Eva Fabian, Haley Anderson, Richard Weinberger, Jordan Wilimovsky and Jarrod Poort, the group will be boosted by pool distance specialists including Kate Ziegler, Mads Glaesner, Maddy Tegner, Morgan Dickson and Evan Pinion.

Footnote: Over 500 American colleges and universities have varsity swimming teams including American University, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Ball State University, Binghamton University, Boise State University, Boston College, Boston University, Bowling Green State University, Brigham Young University, Brown University, Bryant University, Bucknell University, Butler University, California Polytechnic State University, California State University Bakersfield, Campbell University, Canisius College, Central Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Cleveland State University, Colgate University, College of Charleston (South Carolina), College of the Holy Cross, The College of William & Mary, Colorado State University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Davidson College, Drexel University, Duke University, Duquesne University, East Carolina University, Eastern Illinois University, Eastern Michigan University, Fairfield University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Fordham University, Gardner-Webb University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University [50], Grand Canyon University, Harvard University, Howard University, Illinois State University, Indiana University, Indiana University – Purdue University, Iona College, Iowa State University, James Madison University, La Salle University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Louisiana State University, Loyola University Maryland, Loyola Marymount University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Marshall University, Miami University, Michigan State University, Missouri State University, Mount St. Mary’s University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Mexico State University, Niagara University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, Northeastern University, Northern Arizona University, Northwestern University, Oakland University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, Old Dominion University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, Pepperdine University, Princeton University, Providence College, Purdue University, Radford University, Rice University, Rider University, Rutgers University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Francis University, Saint Louis University, San Diego State University, San Jose State University, Seattle University, Seton Hall University, Siena College, South Dakota State University [100], Southern Illinois University, Southern Methodist University, St. Bonaventure University, St. Francis College, St. Peter’s College, Stanford University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Towson University, Tulane University, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, University of Akron, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of California Berkeley, University of California Davis, University of California Los Angeles, University of California Santa Barbara, University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, University of Denver, University of Evansville, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Houston, University of Idaho, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Maine, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha Nebraska, University of New Hampshire, University of New Mexico, University of Nevada, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, University of North Dakota, University of North Florida, University of North Texas, University of Northern Colorado, University of Northern Iowa, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, University of San Diego, University of South Carolina, University of South Dakota, University of Southern California, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, University of the Pacific, University of Toledo, University of Utah, University of Vermont, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, University of Wyoming, Valparaiso University, Vanderbilt University, Villanova University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Wagner College, Washington State University, West Virginia University, Western Illinois University, Western Kentucky University, Wright State University, Xavier University, Yale University, Youngstown State University, Adams State University, Adelphi University, Ashland University, Bellarmine University, Bentley College, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, California Baptist University, California State University East Bay, California University of Pennsylvania, Carson-Newman University, Catawba College, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Saint Rose, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado Mesa Mavericks, Colorado School of Mines, Davis & Elkins College, Delta State University, Drury University, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Fairmont State University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Southern College, Fresno Pacific University, Gannon University, Grand Valley State University, Henderson State University, Hillsdale College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, King University, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Le Moyne College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Lewis University, Lindenwood University, Limestone College, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Long Island University C.W. Post Campus, Lynn University, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Mars Hill University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Minnesota State University Mankato, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Northern Michigan University, Notre Dame College, Nova Southeastern University, Ouachita Baptist University, Pace University, Pfeiffer University, Queens College, Queens University, Rollins College, Saint Leo University, Saint Michael’s College, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Simon Frasier University, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Southern Connecticut State University, St. Cloud State University, Truman State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Bridgeport, University of California San Diego, University of Findlay, University of Indianapolis, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, University of Tampa, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of West Florida, Urbana University, Ursuline College, Wayne State University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Western State Colorado University, Wheeling Jesuit University, William Jewell College, Wingate University, Albion College, Albright College, Alfred University, Allegheny College, Alma College, Amherst College, Arcadia University, Augsburg College, Augustana College (Illinois), Austin College, Babson College, Baldwin Wallace University, Baruch College, Bates College, Beloit College, Berry College, Bethany College (West Virginia), Bowdoin College, Brandeis University, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater State University, Bryn Mawr College, Buffalo State College, Cabrini College, California Institute of Technology, California Lutheran University, Calvin College, Carleton College, Carnegie Mellon University, Carroll University, Carthage College, Case Western Reserve University, The Catholic University of America, Cazenovia College, Cedar Crest College, Centenary College of Louisiana, Centre College, Chapman University, Chatham University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Clark University, Clarkson University, Coe College, Colby College, Colby-Sawyer College, College of Mount St. Vincent, College of New Rochelle, College of Saint Elizabeth, College of Saint Benedict, College of St. Catherine, College of Staten Island, College of Wooster, Colorado College, Concordia College Moorhead, Connecticut College, Defiance College, Denison University, DePauw University, Dickinson College, Drew University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Elizabeth town College, Elms College, Emory and Henry College, Emory University, Eureka College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Franklin & Marshall College, Franklin College, Frostburg State University, Gallaudet University, Gettysburg College, Gordon College, Goucher College, Greensboro College, Grinnell College, Grove City College, Guilford College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamilton College, Hamline University, Hartwick College, Hendrix College, Hiram College, Hollins University, Hood College, Hope College, Hunter College, Husson University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Ithaca College, John Carroll University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Johns Hopkins University, Juniata College, Kalamazoo College, Keene State College, Kenyon College, King’s College (Pennsylvania), Knox College, La Grange College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Lebanon Valley College, Lehman College, Lewis & Clark College, Linfield College, Loras College, Luther College, Lycoming College, Macalester College, Marymount University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McDaniel College, McMurry University, Messiah College, Middlebury College, Millikin University, Mills College, Misericordia University, Monmouth College, Montclair State University, Mount Holyoke College, Mount Saint Mary College, University of Mount Union, Nazareth College, New York University, North Central College, Norwich University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Oberlin College, Occidental College, Ohio Northern University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Olivet College, Pacific Lutheran University, Pacific University, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Penn State University Altoona, Plymouth State University, Pomona College, Pitzer College Principia College, Ramapo College, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Regis College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rhode Island College, Rhodes College, Ripon College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Roger Williams University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Saint Mary’s College (Indiana), Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Saint Vincent College, Salisbury University, Simmons College, Simpson College, Skidmore College, Smith College, Southwestern University, Springfield College, St. John’s University (Minnesota), St. Joseph’s College (Long Island), St. Joseph’s College (Maine), St. Lawrence University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Norbert College, St. Olaf College, State University College at Brockport, State University College at Cortland, State University College at Fredonia, State University College at Geneseo, State University College at New Paltz, State University College at Old Westbury, State University College at Oneonta, State University College at Potsdam, State University of New York at Morrisville, State University of New York at Oswego, State University of New York at Purchase, State University of New York Maritime College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Stevens Susquehanna University, Swarthmore College, Sweet Briar College, The College of New Jersey, Transylvania University, Trinity College (Connecticut), Trinity University (Texas), Tufts University, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Union College (New York), University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Chicago, University of La Verne, University of Mary Washington, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Minnesota Morris, University of New England (United States), University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, University of Puget Sound, University of Redlands, University of Rochester, University of Scranton, University of Saint Joseph, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), Sewanee: The University of the South, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin–River Falls, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Ursinus College, Utica College, Vassar College, Wabash College, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington and Lee University, Washington College (Maryland), Washington University in St. Louis, Wellesley College, Wells College, Wesleyan University (Connecticut), Western Connecticut State University, Western New England University, Westfield State University, Westminster College (Pennsylvania), Wheaton College (Illinois), Wheaton College (Massachusetts), Wheelock College, Whitman College, Whittier College, Ashbury College, Berea College, Biola University, Brenau University, Concordia University (California), Milligan College, Morningside College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Soka University, St. Andrews University, Union College (Kentucky), Warren Wilson College, West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

Tyler Fenwick shown above with Alex Meyer and David Heron.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association