Cape swim teams visit North Carolina universities, explore campus life
At the end of January, the Cape Henlopen High School boys’ and girls’ swim teams took an enriching trip to North Carolina that combined high-level competition with valuable college exploration experiences.
The multi-day itinerary was carefully designed to expose student-athletes to collegiate athletics and campus life while also providing strong competitive opportunities. The teams first traveled to Duke University, where they met with current students to discuss academics, dorm life and the overall college experience.
Following conversations with undergraduates and a campus tour, the teams had lunch at the Brodhead Center on West Campus before heading to the Orange County SportsPlex for a swim meet against C.E. Jordan High School. Both the boys’ and girls’ squads delivered outstanding performances, earning decisive victories in the meet.
After the competition, the teams continued their college-focused experience with a morning tour of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by lunch on campus. Cape students then traveled to North Carolina State University, where they again met with undergrads to explore academics, campus life and residential options. The day concluded with dinner on campus and the opportunity to attend the NC State vs. UVA swim meet, giving Cape swimmers a firsthand look at collegiate-level competition.
“This trip was an amazing opportunity not just for me, but for everyone on the swim team who wanted to really get a good look at what some of the top colleges, both in academics and sports, are like from a campus student’s perspective,” said Cape High swimmer Mia Jaoude. “The NCS vs. UVA college meet also let me see what the top swimmers in the country look like when in competition, and it was very entertaining to watch! I really enjoyed my time during the trip, and I hope we’ll be able to go visit new colleges next year.”
Head coach Bill Geppert emphasized the impact of the experience beyond the pool. “This trip was about much more than racing,” said Geppert. “Our swimmers had the opportunity to compete at a high level, tour three outstanding universities, and see what college athletics and campus life are really like. Experiences like this help our student-athletes begin to picture themselves at the next level, both academically and athletically.”
As the team departed North Carolina and returned home to Cape, they brought home memories of their meet victories, new motivation and a deeper understanding of the opportunities that can lie ahead.
