Wheaton Pre-College offers student-athletes the unique opportunity to learn how to balance sports training and academic pursuits. Our exclusive program is designed specifically for students interested in Fencing, Swimming, or Strength and Conditioning. Students are introduced to college-level coursework and have the opportunity to train under the guidance of NCAA coaches. All programs are co-ed. Student-athletes also attend weekly College-Life Workshops with all other students. These workshops support the Pre-College experience and help students with the transition to college.
Participants in the Athlete Experience will take ONE course in either the AM or PM schedule depending on your sport. See the Courses page for the selection of courses and schedules.
Fencing Program
Our Pre-College Fencing Program offers a comprehensive exploration of the collegiate fencing landscape, coupled with a training regimen crafted to refine and elevate your fencing proficiency.
Daily training sessions are designed to cultivate skills essential for your competitive success. These sessions encompass a holistic approach, integrating warm-ups, intricate footwork, targeted drills and live fencing. Engage in mental agility exercises, technical drills emphasizing speed and precision, and tactical scenarios strategically enhancing your decision-making abilities. Additionally, as time allows, we will delve into the nuances of fencing through tactical video analysis, offering invaluable insights to further elevate your performance.
Beyond the art of fencing, this program provides a nuanced understanding of the demanding yet rewarding life of a varsity athlete. For those aspiring to pursue fencing at the collegiate level, this training serves as a crucial stepping stone, offering an immersive preview of the commitment and dedication required to excel.
Fencing eligibility requirements: Students with any fencing experience qualify for this program. From beginner to advanced, anyone passionate about this sport and also those considering fencing in college can participate.
Meet the Coach
David Sach, a former fencer and coach with experience in international competition, is the inaugural head coach for fencing at Wheaton and serves as the Director of Operations at Boston Fencing Club.
Sach previously served as head coach of fencing at Tufts University and guided the team to a second-place national ranking. In 2023, he was one of four finalists for the 2023 USFCA national coach of the year award.
At the international level, he has served as a British Fencing World Class Performance Pathway Sabre coach and coached national champions, World Cup medalists, a Cadet World Champion and Olympians.
As a fencer, he won a number of national titles, including five consecutive Junior National Championships. He also earned a pair of individual silver medals and a team gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Swimming Program
Our Pre-College Swimming Program is specifically designed for students seeking to improve their skills and also those who are interested in continuing the sport at the collegiate level. This program offers a comprehensive regimen, structured into specialized groups—Distance, Mid-Distance, and Sprint—focusing on race-specific sets under the guidance of an expert coach.
Participation in small group stroke analysis sessions is where you’ll refine all four strokes, unlocking the secrets to efficient and powerful swimming. But that’s not all—our practice sessions are designed to be your arena for mastering racing skills. Focus on perfecting starts, turns, and the art of underwater propulsion with mindful attention, set the stage for impeccable race execution.
Our collegiate training environment boasts an Olympic-size 8-lane pool with a dedicated diving well, providing access to specialized equipment like power towers and racks to enhance training dynamics.
Swimming eligibility requirements: Students with competitive swim experience qualify for this program. Students should come in with knowledge of all 4 strokes and be able to swim 3,000-4,500+ yards within 2 hours.
Meet the Coach
Elizabeth Bernardy, a former standout collegiate swimmer, serves as head coach for Wheaton’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.
Bernardy earned all-conference second team honors four times during the years she competed for Wheaton College. In her final three seasons, the team qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships.
Before taking over leadership of Wheaton’s swimming program, Bernardy enjoyed a two-year stint as an assistant coach for Smith College, helping oversee a team that qualified for the NCAA championship both seasons that she was a part of the coaching staff.
Strength and Conditioning Program
Our Pre-College Strength and Conditioning Program offers a comprehensive introduction to various areas of athletic performance. You’ll enjoy instruction from certified NSCA and USTFCCCA coaches in the areas of speed and agility, rest and recovery, and strength and flexibility; coupled with a training regimen crafted to refine and elevate your cross-training knowledge and development.
Beyond experiential learning, this program provides a significant glimpse into the demanding yet rewarding life of a varsity college student-athlete. For those aspiring to maximize their physical and mental potential as they prepare to be recruited by college coaches in their chosen sport(s), this training serves as a crucial stepping stone. It offers an immersive preview of the commitment and dedication required to excel.
Participation in small group sessions allows you to develop your techniques while unlocking the secrets to efficient and proper form. Our collegiate training environment boasts a best-in-class varsity performance center for strength sessions, wifi and video capabilities for classroom sessions, as well as access to field turf and natural grass surfaces for speed and agility sessions.
Strength and Conditioning eligibility requirements: Students with competitive athletic experience at the high school interscholastic and/or competitive club level in any sport, qualify for this program.
Meet the Coaches
Brooke Marshall, who serves as Wheaton’s head field hockey coach, is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a former college athletic standout.
In her role as head of the field hockey program, Marshall has successfully guided the team through a rebuilding phase to earn its first playoff berth in more than a decade. She previously served as an assistant coach at Smith College, helping the school capture its first conference championship.
As a college athlete, Marshall competed for the University of New England (UNE), leading the team to three consecutive conference championships. She earned a B.S. in applied exercise science from UNE and an M.S. in exercise and sports studies from Smith.
Kim Spence, who serves as head coach of Wheaton’s men’s and women’s track and field teams, is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a former championship track athlete.
Spence has guided the women’s team to competition at six NCAA outdoor national championships and five indoor championship meets. During her tenure, she has coached five All-Americans.
As a student-athlete at Wheaton, Spence helped the Lyons win six NCAA track and field championships. A two-year captain for each track and field squad, she earned All-America honors in three events.
She graduated magna cum laude from Wheaton, majoring in American history and earned an M.S. in education from Fitchburg State University.
Make it a summer to remember
This summer, connect with other motivated pre-college students who share your academic and extracurricular interests. Discover your passions. Explore new ideas. Create memories that will last a lifetime.
Questions?
For Pre-College inquiries, contact:
Wheaton Office of Summer Programming
508-286-8242
[email protected]
Learn more about Wheaton: