Students placed flowers inside a protein powder tub with a sign in memorial for the closure of the Intramural West building in East Lansing, Mich., on April 29, 2026.
More than 500 former alumni of the Michigan State University Swim and Dive team, along with their friends and family, gathered this Saturday at IM West for one final swim. For generations, the pool has served as a place of gathering and community for many.
While this event marked the 70th anniversary alumni meet, it was even more meaningful than celebrating the memories they made here. It was the last time MSU Swim and Dive alumni would meet at IM West while preparing to say goodbye.
The MSU band started off the event with the university’s fight song, followed by a short speech from President Kevin Guskiewicz and new athletic director Dan Bartholomae.
For many alumni, this event was more than just a final farewell. It was a chance to revisit the memories and friendships they made in the pool where they spent countless hours of their lives, and walking through the IM West doors one last time was a bittersweet moment.
“When I walked in, it was hard, but I know that there's a new, beautiful facility that was just built,” James Thurston '94 said. “I'm sad, all of us have a lot of hours in here. You know, you're sad because of the memories, but you're happy for the future of MSU.”
The Charles McCaffree Pool was built in 1958 and was home to MSU Swim and Dive for over 60 years until the program was eliminated in 2021. The pool represents the different eras of Michigan State swim and dive, almost like stepping into a time capsule filled with memories.
“I have a lot of memories," said two-time Big Ten champ and All-American Richard Crittenden '70. "I swam here. I was the head of the lifeguards, so I was here after the swimming hours, but I’m a move-on type of person. I understand that times change and these things have to be done.”
Alumni from different generations had one favorite part of IM West in mind: the outdoor pool. After being closed in 2018, the 50-meter outdoor pool, opened in 1959, made its mark. The multi-level 10-meter diving board was one of the many features alumni remember.
“Swimming in the outdoor pool on college football game days, we’d be out there swimming until mid-November. Your hair would be freezing, like literally in ice," Thurston said.
While the closing of IM West was emotional for many, some understand the importance of opening a new facility.
“In the 80s, this was due for a revamp, and now 35 years later, every single Big Ten school has a new rec center,” said All-American and Big Ten champion Steve Leissner '92.
In its 99-year history, MSU Swim and Dive has won 8 National Championships, 127 Big Ten Championships, and produced 474 All-Americans. The program's legacy also includes 20 Olympic swimmers and divers, including Clarke Scholes, Gary Dilley and Linda Gustavson.
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