09/06/2026
To our fellow swimming coaches and instructors: we understand that we share the same mission of drowning prevention. We all want fewer lives lost in the water.
But we hope we can approach this tragedy with a little more restraint, compassion, and respect.
Not every drowning incident should immediately become a marketing opportunity, a lead magnet, or a sales pitch for swimming lessons.
The family is grieving. Teammates are grieving. Friends are grieving.
At this moment, the focus should be on honoring the lives that were lost.
As a swim school, we firmly believe that swimming lessons and water safety education save lives. That has always been our mission and will continue to be our mission.
But we also recognize that not every tragedy can be reduced to a simple narrative.
By all accounts, Rene was a disciplined and intelligent young athlete competing at the highest level of collegiate basketball. This was not simply a story about someone lacking athletic ability, courage, or determination.
Water safety is bigger than swimming ability alone. It involves proper supervision, qualified rescue personnel, risk assessment, safety equipment, emergency preparedness, and sound decision-making from everyone responsible for an activity.
There will be a time to discuss the lessons that can be learned from this heartbreaking incident. There will be a time to talk about prevention.
But today, we choose to remember the people behind the headlines.
We choose to remember the athlete, the teammate, the son, the friend, and the dreams that were cut short far too soon.
Our deepest condolences go out to the families, teammates, coaches, and loved ones of Rene and Divine.
May they be remembered for how they lived, not merely for the tragedy that took them from us.
