Wofford students enjoy deep dive into popular recreational pastime

Charles Beltz '25 wasn't thinking of himself when he decided to take the plunge during Interim.

"I took this course because I might have kids one day and I want to be able to save them if they have a near-drowning experience," says Beltz, a biology major from Inman, South Carolina. "I swam in the deep end for the first time. I could barely float when I started."

The Learn to Swim course, guided by Drs. Kim Rostan and Grace Schwartz, aims to teach students basic water safety and swimming skills.

Students also are learning about the history and cultural significance of the favorite recreational pastime. They're also studying the societal barriers that contribute to an alarming rate of people who are unable to swim the length of a pool, a statistic that affects more than one-third of adults in the U.S., according to the USA Swimming Foundation.