Photo: Megan White

Melissa Gates was named the new Elizabethtown College head swim coach and aquatics director in August 2018. Before getting her new position, Gates was the assistant coach for the swim team at Franklin & Marshall College for two years. According to etownbluejays.com, Gates is a former “three-time NCAA Division II national champion and United States Olympic Trials qualifier.”

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference named Gates its Swimmer of the Year in 2012. She continues to hold the records in 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and is a member of the Vulcans’ record-holding 400 freestyle relay.

In 2017, at the end of her first year at F&M, the men’s team took home six medals in the Centennial Conference Championships and the women took two individual medals.

Gates is from the Lancaster area. She feels this position is perfect for her because her fiance works in the Lancaster area, and she was looking into getting a head coach job. She likes the small school aspect of Etown.

“All departments are connected,” Gates said. “Everyone knows everyone, and they are all so welcoming.”

She is excited to start the swim season. She has a long list of things she hopes to help the team accomplish this year.

“We want to break school records,” Gates said. “I also want to make sure everyone has a positive experience.” Her last goal is to help the team move up one spot in the Landmark Conference by the end of the season.

Regarding the team, she wants to see personal growth.

“I hope that they learn that success comes in many different forms. This can include getting excited about the small things like getting a new record,” she said. The 2018-2019 swim season starts Friday, Oct. 19.