The doors of the Memorial Field House Natatorium have opened and closed thousands of times over the last half-century, but every echo of footsteps, every splash, every cheer has carried the same spirit: Titan pride.

In 1975, as Westminster College prepared to unveil a new home for its swimmers and divers, few could have imagined just how much history would unfold within those tiled walls. When the Natatorium was officially dedicated on Feb. 28, 1976—with more than 500 alumni, students and friends packed into the stands—the moment carried national significance as well. Olympic gold medalist diver Micki King served as the featured speaker at the ceremony, lending her voice and presence to a celebration that marked not just the opening of a pool, but the beginning of a new era for Titan Athletics.

For decades before, Titan swimmers trained and competed in far humbler conditions. From 1926 to 1928, and again from 1939 to 1975, the team raced in the 15,000-gallon pool in Old 77—lovingly known as “The Bathtub.” It was small, cramped and far from glamorous, but it forged resilient athletes. When the Natatorium opened under the leadership of head coach Gene Nicholson ’69, those same values of grit and dedication finally had a stage worthy of them.

As the years flowed by, the pool became a witness to milestones. In 1981, Myron Luthringer ’82 surged into history as Westminster’s first NAIA national champion, capturing the 100-meter breaststroke. The lanes widened in 1987 with the arrival of women’s swimming and diving, and in 1991 Kristen (Zukowski) Allen ’94 etched her name alongside the greats by winning the NAIA national title in the 100 butterfly.

Champions kept coming. Drew Dugan dominated the butterfly events in 1994 and was named NAIA Swimmer of the Year. David Gesacion ’00 added another national title in 1998. When Westminster gained full NCAA Division III and Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) eligibility in 2003, the program proved it belonged, highlighted by Ryan Trunk ’07 tying for second place nationally in the 100-yard freestyle—still the highest NCAA finish by a Titan swimmer.

Records fell, too. In 2009 alone, 22 new Titan records were set in the Natatorium, each one another ripple in a growing legacy. Caitlin (Lehberger) Smith ’12 delivered consistency at the highest level with three straight years of top-eight national finishes, while longtime head coach Rob Klamut celebrated his 400th career victory in 2014—many of them earned poolside.

The facility itself evolved alongside the program. A video scoreboard arrived in 2016. Major renovations were completed in 2024, blending modern upgrades with decades of tradition. And in 2025, the pool deck was dedicated in honor of Gene and Barb Nicholson, permanently tying the heart of the facility to the people who helped build its foundation.

By its 50th anniversary, celebrated on Jan. 17, the Natatorium once again became a gathering place for generations of Titans, as more than 100 swimming and diving alumni returned to campus to mark the milestone. The day featured an alumni swim meet, tours of the Memorial Field House showcasing the facility’s evolution, and concluded with an evening reception and dinner in New Castle—a fitting tribute to a program defined by decades of excellence. That legacy is reflected in the numbers: 101 NAIA All-Americans, 10 NCAA Division II or III All-Americans, four NAIA national champions, nine PAC championships for the men, and five for the women. 

For 50 years, the Memorial Field House Natatorium has been more than water and walls. It has been a proving ground, a place where champions are. As new seasons approach and fresh Titans step onto the deck, echoes of the past continue to guide them forward, one stroke at a time.

Today the swimming and diving program is under the leadership of head coach Todd Slobodnyak ’12. To view the 2025-2026 swimming and diving schedule, click here.

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