Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) men’s swim and dive’s season was temporarily suspended due to alleged “concerning behaviors within the Stags Swim & Dive program,” according to an email statement to TSL from Alex Boekelheide, associate vice president for Strategic Communications & Marketing at Claremont McKenna College.
The news spread after an email, obtained by TSL on Oct. 30, was sent regarding the Azusa Pacific University’s (APU) Double Dual swim meet. The email informed recipients that CMS would not be competing as scheduled. CMS’ athletic director had notified the administration that the program’s season was “suspended indefinitely.”
The statement announced from a Biola University representative that “the CMS men will not be attending the meet this weekend,” while “the CMS women and APU are still attending.”
Following the initial suspension, the department launched an investigation “to ensure alignment with our community values and expectations.”
The team was under review over the past week and many swimmers were interviewed by the investigators on Saturday, a source familiar with the matter told TSL.
“Before student athletes return to the pool, they are participating in guided, intentional reflection on the program’s responsibility, both individually and collectively, to meet those expectations and to maintain a positive team and campus culture,” Boekelheide wrote.
CMS men’s swimmers and divers will be allowed to continue their season.
This instance marks the second time in six years that the CMS swim and dive team has been investigated due to alleged misconduct.
In 2019, several seniors on the women’s team quit following the discovery of a document called the “Stag Survival Guide,” which included racist and sexist comments about team members.
That investigation resulted in a similar consequence of “mandatory educational programming” and received no further sanctions following the preliminary suspension of the season during the launched investigation.
No further details were provided on what the required “guided, intentional reflection” entailed for swimmers and divers before they could return to the pool.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
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