MURFREESBORO- Chowan University begins a new era in athletic history as the women's swim team prepares to hit the lanes for the first time on October 1st.  The Hawks travel to Franklin Springs, Georgia on Saturday to compete in the Conference Carolina's Kick-Off hosted by Emmanuel College. 

Under the direction of Head Coach Matt Hood, the eight-member swim team is eager to make a historic mark in Murfreesboro.

Upon his hiring in May 2015, Head Coach Matt Hood worked to assemble a program eager to make a historic mark in Murfreesboro.  "…It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to build a new program and to bring the Hawks' tradition of athletic success to the pool.  Stepping onto campus I really felt like Chowan is where God called me to be; teaching young women the skills for success not only in the pool, but skills that will carry into the classroom, workplace, and life after college," Hood noted. 

The women's swim team roster is comprised of six freshmen, one sophomore, and one junior hailing from various states and countries.  Julia Chmielewska of Kartuzy, Poland,Ashley Hernandez from El Paso, Texas, Sarah Hull of Henderson, North Carolina, Keitra Lloyd hailing from Naussau, Bahamas, Kenya McCray of Phoenix, Arizona, and Megan Reid of Freeport, Bahamas will all be counted on to make an immediate impact in their first collegiate seasons.  The team also includes Anchorage, Alaska native SheAyre Bowles, a sophomore transfer from Limestone College and Kjahna O, a junior hailing from Orlando, Florida, and transfer from the University of Arizona. 

The team will compete in a total of ten meets in their inaugural season, highlighted by three home meets.  After opening the year on the road at the Conference Carolina's Kick-Off on October 1st and Converse Invitational October 7th-8th, the Hawks will host their first home meet on October 29th against Columbia College in the Bynum Rhodes Brown Aquatic Center.  Chowan will hit the road again on November 4th to compete against Limestone College and will continue travel on November 5th in a 12pm meet hosted by Converse College. 

The Hawks return home on November 18th to host UNC-Pembroke before traveling to compete in the Savannah College of Art & Design Invitational December 1st- 3rd.  Chowan's final home meet of the season will take place on January 13th as the Hawks play host to Barton College and St. Andrews University.  After traveling to UNC Greensboro on January 20th, the Hawks will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina February 8th-11th to compete in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference meet.