A Way to Give Back
A few years ago, the HOX Board asked a simple question. What if we could give something back to the swimmers who give so much to this team?
Years of early-morning practices. Saturday meets that start before the sun is fully up. Cold mornings, tired arms, and more relay cheers from the deck than anyone could count. That question became the HOX College Scholarship Program. Each year, it recognizes graduating swimmers who have shown commitment to the team, to their schoolwork, and to the people around them.
Meet This Year’s Recipients
This year, we’re proud to award scholarships to five HOX swimmers. Taylor Thomas – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Addison Sales – California State University, Fullerton Sean Perez – Stevens Institute of
Technology Ryan Oh – Santa Barbara City College Leviticus Lynch – Lipscomb University
It Was Never Just About Speed Ask our recipients what they’ll take with them, and very few will name a specific race.
They’ll talk about the friends they made in the lane next to them. The younger swimmers they helped through a first meet. The mornings they showed up when they didn’t feel like it.
Some of them started in Mini-HOX at three or four years old, still holding onto the lane line. Some were never the fastest in their age group. What they have in common is simple.
They stayed.
Patience. Discipline. Resilience. Showing up for a teammate. Those are the qualities this scholarship honors, and they’re the same ones that will carry these young people through college and well beyond it.
Your Swimmer’s Journey Can Start Here If your family has been thinking about joining HOX, now is a great time to start the conversation. Summer 2027 registration opens in early January.
Swimmers under 15 join as part of a Blackhawk Country Club membership, and swimmers ages 15 to 18 are welcome whether or not their family are members. For high schoolers, HOX is a great way to stay in shape over the summer, belong to a close-knit team, and become eligible for future HOX scholarships. Little ones ages 3 to 6 can get their start in
Mini-HOX, our developmental program built around water confidence and learning through play. No racing experience is
needed at any age. Our coaches meet every swimmer where they are.
Want to find your tribe with HOX?
To learn more or get started, reach out to Coach Sean at seanq@ blackhawkcc.org. All new HOX swimmers need an evaluation with Coach Sean before registering, so he’s the best first stop. To this year’s recipients: “Congratulations. You are exactly what it means to be a HOX swimmer. See you on deck.”
Provided by Sean Quackenbush, Aquatics Director & HOX Head Coach