Columbus North coach Mike Cunningham announces the Bull Frog seniors before a meet against Jennings County Jan. 20 in the Chick Newell Natatorium at Columbus North High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Donner Swim Club, which has been a staple of the Columbus community for more than three-quarters of a century, is at a financial crossroads.
The 77-year-old club reported at its December meeting that it was running a $14,000 deficit for December. That came after a $15,000 deficit in November.
The Donner board released a statement saying, “Sport organizations collect registration fees upfront in the beginning of the season with some club members on a monthly payment plan. So as the season rolls off, the organization is planned to run on a deficit as it is budgeted to run on the bulk of income generated in the beginning of the season.”
Last month, Mike Cunningham, who had been Donner’s head coach the past 3 1/2 years, resigned from the club. Cunningham still is coaching the Columbus North High School team, which has a girls swimmer competing at this weekend’s state finals and will host the boys sectional next week.
Jennifer Brinegar (in light blue) talks with some of her former Club Olympia swimmers at a meet.
Submitted photo
Jennifer Brinegar, a former US Olympic swimmer and longtime Donner assistant coach, founded Club Olympia in 2015. Brinegar closed Club Olympia in 2025 and returned to Donner as part of Cunningham’s staff.
Wednesday, Brinegar started a new job as an age group coach with Franklin Regional Swim Team. Her first assignment is with the 11-through-14 age group.
“I’ve been wanting to coach with (FRST head coach Zach) DeWitt for a long time because I’ve admired what he’s done at Franklin with that program,” Brinegar said. “I felt kind of at home today at their practice. Through the rest of this season, my goal is just to get to know as many of the faces and names and what they like and don’t like. Then, I’ll be more of a full-time coach starting in April.”
Meanwhile, Johanna Ogle has been named interim head coach at Donner. Ogle is a former Division I swimmer at University of Kentucky.
Last fall, the club had 154 swimmers.
The club season kicks into high gear next month following the end of the high school season. Divisionals are first weekend in March, followed by the Senior State Championships in Elkhart, Age Group State Championships at the new Carmel aquatic facility and then the USA Speedo Sectional Long-Course meet the last weekend in March at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
