Getting into the swim: MCC adds another sport
Athletics Director Sander Atkinson, Head Coach Wade Heggie, and MCC President Tom
Huebner.
Meridian Community College is adding another team to its Eagle athletic roster: swimming, making MCC the only community and junior college in the state to offer it as a sport.
“Our plan is to build a small squad this fall and watch it grow. Our belief is our program will grow and become the flagship swimming program for students in the southeastern United States,” said MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner.
Dr. Huebner noted the College’s swimming facilities located at the campus’ Damon Fitness Center are competitive; the pool is a sanctioned 25-meter swimming pool.
Leading the team will be Wade Heggie, MCC fitness center director, who has been involved with the Meridian Swim Association as its coach for a number of years as well as with the Mississippi Swim Association and its board. “In 2017, Wade was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the U.S. Swim Association for his service to Mississippi swimming,” said MCC Athletic Director Sander Atkinson.
“We have slogan here – find your wings,” Heggie said. “That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to get swimmers here, athletes here,” he said, adding, “Coaching has been my life, but it’s not just that,” he said. “I love the water. This is my second home... my family knows this. I spend a lot of hours up here, because we want to provide a healthy, safe environment,” he said.
He added, “I can’t wait to get my feet wet.”
The new swimming program will offer a variety of events, including freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly and it will compete against other National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) teams.
Adding swimming as a sport is part of MCC's ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for students to participate in athletics and promote physical fitness. Swimming is a highly competitive and demanding sport that requires discipline, hard work, and dedication, aligning with MCC's values and mission, college officials noted.
Other teams on the Eagles athletic roster include baseball, golf, cross country, and men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, tennis and track.
To learn more about MCC athletics, visit mcceagles.com.