Franklin will elevate its two-year-old club swimming and diving program to varsity status next season, sponsoring the sport for men and women.

The club team competed in three meets this year.

Athletics Director Kerry Prather said the action reflected the commitment and progress of a dedicated group of student-athletes, the leadership of consultant Kurt Haas (who now will serve as director of swimming and diving) and coach Andy Hendricks.

Hendricks said the team was competitive in this year’s meets.

“We had a handful of kids on the team who had some swimming experience and other kids who did not have any competitive experience,” he said. “It says a lot about the type of kids who come to Franklin College.

“There is no other step but to move forward. One of the students put it best – by not doing anything, we would be taking a step backward.”

The addition of swimming will give Franklin 20 varsity sports – 10 each for men and women. The school reports that about 35 percent of its students compete in varsity athletics.

Haas credited former Indiana swimmer Hendricks with bringing Franklin’s program a long way in a short period of time.

“This year was the first time we functioned as a team at the club level,” Haas said. “The kids pushed each other, took leadership roles and had fun doing it. That was the biggest thing that we needed to happen to make the move to Division III.”