Columbus East swimmer Whitley Eicher loved the family atmosphere of the Olympians swim team, which is why she chose to sign with the family-oriented Indiana Wesleyan program on Wednesday.
Eicher’s other top choice was Wheaton College in Illinois, but she said Indiana Wesleyan fit her more academically. Plus, she won the Hoosier Educator scholarship that she can use while swimming for the Wildcats. Her intended major is physical and health education, and she plans on becoming a swim coach one day.
“I’m super excited,” Eicher said of joining the Wildcats. “I know there is going to be a lot more work ahead of me, but I love it. I hope that one day, I can use all of my training and stuff as a coach because I really want to be a coach one day.”
The IWU swim team is gaining an athlete who helped set school records in the 200-yard freestyle and 200 medley relays. Wildcats coach Laurissa Dalrymple showed how family-oriented the team is by making sure to show up to Eicher’s signing day with her own family.
Dalrymple said Eicher’s sweet personality made her believe that Eicher would be a good fit for the team. Eicher said having Dalrymple travel to East for her big day was really special to her, and she looks forward to swimming for Dalrymple the next four years.
“She enjoys teammates and embodies the mission of Indiana Wesleyan,” Dalrymple said. “Our team, the girls really become a family as a team, and I thought she would fit in well with that.”
Eicher and Dalrymple crossed paths earlier this year, but the possibility of her moving to Marion didn’t become serious until about two months ago. Eicher took an overnight visit where she got to hang out with the team, and she felt a connection with the girls there that is similar to the connection she has with her East teammates.
“I love the team. They’re crazy and weird, kind of like me, so I think it’s going to be a great fit,” Eicher said.
East coach Jill Arnholt was able to watch Eicher grow over the past three years and said she is excited to see her continuing her swimming career at the next level. Arnholt said Eicher’s biggest growth over the years is in her physical and mental toughness, and that will carry on into college.
“I think she’s always had the goal to swim after high school, and she proved herself,” Arnholt said. “I’m really glad to see that she is going to continue on because it’s a long sport that she can be involved in. I think she has some interesting coaching, and she’ll make a really good swim coach some day.”
