19 SPRING 2025 NAIA SWIM NATIONALS SHOWS THE BENEFIT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Deb Thompson, head coach of Bethel’s swimming and diving teams, has been coming to work on Bethel’s campus since 2018. This year, however, she has spent most of her time in Elkhart, Ind. Nestled downtown on the Elkhart River is the Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center (HAC), home of the Bethel swimming and diving teams. Recently built in 2019, it is one of the largest public swimming facilities in the nation. This year, it will also be the host site of the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Swim and Dive National Championships. “The Elkhart Aquatics Center is a world-class facility,” Tony Natali, Bethel athletic director, says. “We look forward to working with the NAIA to provide a great student-athlete experience to all those who attend.” This event will bring over 400 athletes, along with their coaches and families, to Elkhart for a four-day competition. For Elkhart, this means a substantial boost to the local economy. The NAIA states on their website that National Championship events have the potential to draw between 1,300-1,500 visitors and generate between $400,000 and $600,000 in local tourism revenue. Athletic tourism accounts for over $1 billion in economic activity in the Michiana region, and Bethel is proud to play a significant role in continuing to grow that number. Staff and students have spent more than 18 months working with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County to prepare for this event, and everyone is excited to showcase the quality of our region’s amenities, facilities and hospitality. “I’m very proud of the students for all their hard work and commitment,” Thompson says. “They have spent weeks getting up at 4 a.m. to practice and have sacrificed their time to volunteer for this event.” Thompson and her students know that the benefit of an event like this goes both ways. “Bethel University will benefit from the exposure and national recognition of hosting,” Thompson says. “Our students know how lucky they are to compete at a familiar venue.” Through the combined efforts of the Bethel team and support from Elkhart County, this event will show that our community has a lot to offer and that Bethel is an integral part of its success. BY: Melyssa Geever ‘23 Top: Coach Deb Thompson at the pool. Bottom: An event of this magnitude could not have been accomplished without significant volunteer support, organized through Bethel University and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.
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