INFO | Fernando Dehaudt on SwimCloud
INFO | Joel Thompson on SwimCloud
 
Wingate, N.C.----Two Wingate University swimming student-athletes competed in the Toyota US Open swimming championships December 3-6 in Austin, Texas. Sophomore Fernando Dehaudt (Belgium) and graduate student Joel Thompson (Great Britain) represented the Bulldogs, accompanied by assistant coach Ben Evans.
 
The Wingate University athletic communications office caught up with #WUSWIM head coach Kevin Hennessy, Dehaudt and Thompson to get their thoughts on the experience. An edited transcript follows.
 
What They Are Saying about the US Open
Wingate head coach Kevin Hennessy
 
"The US Open is always an exciting opportunity for our swimmers to go and compete. It's a meet where you'll see a multitude of college swimmers as well as some national team members and Olympians. It's a great opportunity to learn to see and race against some of the best in our sport. I am happy for Fernando and Joel for getting the opportunity to go and compete. This is an excellent moment of growth for both of them. We are looking forward to taking more of our swimmers to that level of competition in the future."
 
Wingate sophomore student-athlete Fernando Dehaudt
 
"Last weekend's US Open in Austin, Texas was a very good experience for me. I'm happy that I had the chance to go. I was pleased with how I swam, especially considering that the meet was in a long-course pool. Even without long-course preparation, I felt confident in my performances and proud of the way I handled the challenge."
 
"Austin itself is a beautiful city…and the atmosphere at the meet made the whole trip even better. It was amazing to see so many top-level swimmers in person and watch them race right in front of me. Being surrounded by such a high-elite level of talent was inspiring and motivating. This made the entire experience unforgettable."
 
Wingate graduate student and team captain Joel Thompson
 
"The US Open is one of the toughest events that happens during the year with a multitude of top competitors coming together to see what they can do. Fernando and I were honored to swim amongst the top swimmers in the world, especially representing Wingate University. I believe that we will have more competitors next year representing the Bulldogs. Having coaches like Kevin, Ben and Kate (Agger) by our side supporting us all year round in and out of the pool is a really good motivation kicker for us. I can't wait to see what happens during the last three months of our season. Geaux Bulldogs!"
 
Wingate Swimming quick facts
 
- Wingate has 45 NCAA national championship swims lifetime (31 women, 14 men)
- At NCAAs, the WU women have earned second place once (2016) and third twice
- The 'Dogs have earned fifth place at NCAA men's meet once with six sixth-place showings
- The Bulldogs swept the SAC championships in '23, '24 and '25, winning both titles
- WU won 11 Bluegrass Mountain Conference crowns while BMC members
- The 'Dogs won seven BMC men's titles and four BMC women's crowns
- WUSWIM student-athletes have earned Academic All-America® honors 40 times
- WUSWIM's Academic All-America® breakdown includes 23 men and 17 women

Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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