Hidden one floor beneath a college gymnasium, tucked at the end of a hallway and through two sets of heavy double doors, Matt Salerno checked his stopwatch and shouted time results to swimmers crisscrossing a small, six-lane pool whose very existence is unknown to even some students at Howard University.
As one of three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to field a swimming and diving team, Howard faces a number of challenges - lack of recognition, for one, but also in recruiting, resources, competitiveness and its role in the continued expansion of a sport across racial boundaries. But despite those issues, many on the team believe they are on the right path toward forming a competitive program over the next few years - and one that can continue to break down barriers.
"I don't even know if they know how much of an inspiration they are to many black swimmers or African American swimmers or divers," Salerno said. "That they're doing something that's 1 in 50. And I think when they look back on it, they'll feel a lot of pride for their accomplishments."
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