Swimming & Wrestling

SWIMMING & WRESTLING DEBUT

IN 2009-10 Holloway Health & Wellness Center Allows LWC to Expand Opportunities to Students Late this summer, Bart Garlick stood in a 16-foot concrete hole. In less than five months, the hole would hold more than 297,000 gallons of water and be the home of Lindsey Wilson College’s first swimming and diving program. Garlick was named LWC’s first swimming after serving as head coach at the University of Colorado since 2005. While at Colorado, Garlick lead the men's and women's programs to a combined four straight American Swimming Association National Championships and seven national records. The opportunity to start a collegiate swimming and diving program led Garlick to go east. “There are so many elements that attracted me to this job,” he said. “But I really like the challenge of creating a program from scratch. It is a great opportunity that most coaches never get to experience, and with the great support from the institution’s administration, I know we can build something special here at Lindsey Wilson College.” The Blue Raiders’ first jump into the pool came on Oct. 10 at Asbury (Ky.)

Corey Ruff and Chris Sinsheimer are both “firsts” in Lindsey Wilson College history. Ruff is the first wrestling coach in LWC history, and Sinsheimer was the first student-athlete to be signed to the college’s wrestling program.

Swimming and diving coach Bart Garlick stands in July in the 16-foot area of the swimming pool of the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. The 297,000-gallon pool will have an eight-lane competition pool and three competition diving boards.

College. (Results were unavailable at deadline of this issue of Cornerstone; for the results, go to www.lindseyathletics.com and click on “Swimming” on the column on the left side of the page.) “My initial goal for our program is to have high satisfaction among the participants and to produce high quality citizens,” Garlick said. “I want our studentathletes to have a high quality experience they will remember favorably for the rest of their “I really like the challenge lives.” of creating a program from Having a new scratch. It is a great oppor- eight-lane competitunity that most coaches tion pool and three never get to experience.” competition diving – Bart Garlick , boards in the Doris swimming and diving coach and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center is an asset Garlick has played when talking to

prospective swimmers and divers. “It’s going to be a beautiful building,” he said. “Not too many studentathletes, not to mention coaches, get to be part of something like that.” Prior to Colorado, Garlick was the head women’s swimming coach at Lock Haven (Pa.) University from 2001-05 where he led the program to records in all 19 NCAA events and posted the highest conference finishes in the program’s history (’03-04). Garlick’s program ranked first academically among all Lock Haven athletic teams every year of his tenure. From 2000-01, Garlick was assistant coach of men’s swimming at Penn State University. where the team finished third at Big Ten Championships and 16th at the NCAA Division I National Championships. Personally, Garlick holds two current YMCA Master’s national records, and he competes in triathlons.

“My goal has always been to take over a new program and mold it for success,” Ruff said when he was named wrestling coach. “This is a tremendous opportunity, and I believe we can build a successful program at Lindsey Wilson.” Sinsheimer became LWC’s first wrestler in May. He finished his senior season with an overall record of 39-3. “Chris will be an integral part of the foundation of the wrestling program at Lindsey Wilson College,” Ruff said. “Over the past few years Chris has developed into one of Tennessee’s best wrestlers, and I think he has the potential to do special things during his four years in school.”

Wrestling coach Corey Ruff stands in July in the 5,000-square-foot area of the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center that will be the Blue Raiders’ wrestling room and offices. “The health and wellness center is only going to enhance our program,” Ruff said.

The Blue Raiders first match is Oct. 31 at University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky. The first home match at Biggers Sports Center will be Nov. 17 against Cumberland (Tenn.) University. This year will also be a season of firsts for the NAIA’s MidSouth Conference, of which LWC is a member. Earlier this You can follow LWC summer, MSC athletics directors unanimously voted to add men’s sports online at the wrestling as the 18th sport sponhome of Blue Raider sored by conference. Sports: www.lindseyLWC will compete with athletics.com. Men’s Campbellsville (Ky.) University, and women’s basketCumberland, Cumberlands and ball games are broadWest Virginia University cast on WAIN-AM/FM (93.5, 1270) and also Institute of Technology. online. You can also keep up with Blue LWC’s wrestling program – Raider sports on Twitter at which opened the 2009-10 twitter.com/lwcathletics. Several LWC sports school year with 45 on its roster and coaches also use Twitter. – will be housed in the Doris and To see Bart Garlick and Corey Ruff talkBob Holloway Health & ing about their sports, go to the LWC YouTube channel www.youtube.com/lwcpub- Wellness Center. The 73,000 square foot center includes a licrelations) and search “swimming” and 5,000-square-foot area that “wrestling.”

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includes a wrestling room and offices for the staff. “Lindsey Wilson is a growing college with a rich tradition within its athletic department,” Ruff said. “The health and wellness center is only going to enhance our program. I’m very excited to be here.” Before LWC, Ruff served last two seasons at Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College. He was a member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s coaching staff from 2003-06. Ruff has helped coach four national champions, 24 All-Americans, 19 regional champions and 40 national qualifiers. Ruff also looks forward to working in Kentucky. “My goal is to meet with every highschool head wrestling coach in the state of Kentucky to get to know the system,” Ruff said. “I also envision setting up camps for the local kids and establishing a good rapport within the community and around the region.”