Howard’s all-Black swim & dive team creates new chapter in U.S. history
The Howard Bison, the only all-Black team in collegiate swimming, made a splash by becoming the first all-Black swim team to be spotlighted in the highly-cited sports magazine “Sports Illustrated.” At the start of the fall season in October of last year, “Sports Illustrated” started covering the Howard University swim and dive team. The revolutionary feature article reveals the barriers the team is shattering. They are putting to bed the old stereotype of Black people not being able to swim.
The only HBCU in the game with a swim team is Howard and with each active season win, they have shattered previous records and written new chapters in the pages of history of their storied school. As pointed out by The Hilltop, the team’s members hail from all over the Americas and the Caribbean, and they’ve made quite a name for themselves in their respective regions. The women’s team is currently 5-3 overall, while the men’s team is currently 6-2. Both squads have a good chance of winning the Northeast Conference.
Senior Raychel Fauntroy, captain of the women’s team, expressed her joy at the team being recognized. “When Coach Nic asked me to be in the photo shoot for it, I was really shocked that they wanted to do an article and feature us. A lot of people don’t know Howard has a swim team let alone the only HBCU with one,” Fauntroy said.
“I’m very excited for the team to be highlighted in Sports Illustrated,” she added. I would’ve never thought we would be in there but we are and it warms my heart that now others can support and learn about our program while providing reassurance to those young black swimmers that it’s possible.”
To kick off the month of February, Howard University’s swim and dive team was represented in an exclusive “Sports Illustrated” article that recognized the HBCU’s great accomplishments in a predominantly white sport. This issue’s cover features the program’s coach Nic Askew and his powerful team.
Three additional HBCUs offered swimming programs within the past few years. Sadly, due to financial constraints and widespread disinterest in the sport, that number has since dropped to one.
“This is about our mission as a university and the message we want to send as an HBCU…,” Askew shared with Sports Illustrated. “This isn’t a bunch of Black people in a pool; it’s young Black men and women succeeding in a sport that, for years, has shut them out of this experience.”
“With Howard being the only swim team at an HBCU in the country, I feel like it motivates me to just always do my best. There are always younger athletes, young black athletes, young swimmers, who are always looking for a figure to look up to, and I feel like growing up for me I didn’t have that, you know?” Fauntroy concured.
Similarly to the culture, the team has its own distinct identity. Fauntroy explained what makes the team special.
“We love what we do. We chose a sport and stuck to it for around 10+ years, which most of us have. We love it so much…there are people on the team willing to teach people how to swim and water safety.” she elaborated. We volunteer at swim clubs and teach them tips and tricks to be successful. I’m proud to say that I’ve been a part of the team and am very grateful to have had this experience. Howard University swim and dive has a familial bond and a team unlike any other.”
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 2:08 PM.