One may describe a sports family as huge fans of professional teams, or that it plays lots of competitive games at home. However, a sports family could also have four current or former college athletes across three sports.
Senior Henry Gingrich is the captain of the Villanova men’s swim and diving team. He competes in butterfly and freestyle sprinting events. His personal best in the 50 Free is 20.82 seconds.
Gingrich’s persistence did not come from anywhere. It’s genetic. His father, Steve, played tennis at Lynchburg University, and his mother, Mary, competed on the William Smith College field hockey team.
Gingrich speaks very highly of his brother Charlie, a Duke swimming alum who graduated in 2023.
“My first year of high school, I had this great leader who was already a huge role model in my life, you know, being my older brother,” Gingrich said. “He really taught me what it’s like to work hard, but also be a team leader and cultivate a culture of togetherness.”
Gingrich grew up in Lancaster County, PA, swimming as well as playing flag football and tackle football up until middle school. Both he and his brother attended Manheim Township High School and competed on the swim team together for one year.
The sibling duo would roll into school a few minutes late almost every day. Charlie, in a main character-esque way, was friends with the front desk workers, who would let the brothers into school late, with no repercussions.
Despite having a brother three years older, Gingrich managed to find his own spotlight. He began to swim when he was six, and joined a competitive team at the mere age of nine. Five Star Swim Club in his hometown aided in his development and love for the sport. Charlie also trained at the same facility.
“We were fortunate enough that we were far enough apart that I didn’t have to worry about him kicking my butt too early on when he was young enough,” Charlie said. “I loved helping him out and giving him pointers on things that kind of I had seen and run into, and I loved watching him improve and progress.”
Gingrich practiced with Five Star Swim Club every day, but never competed with the team. He competed with Manheim Varsity but never practiced with it.
Looking to continue his athletic career, Gingrich craved a team with a sense of community.
“I remember very specifically his visit to campus with his parents,” Villanova Swimming head coach Rick Simpson said. “He made an impact and drew a lot of attention to himself as a high school senior. He came across as much more mature than average high school athletes. I can see him rolling into a leadership role as time goes on.”
Due to his immense training and calm demeanor, Gingrich was able to decide among some of the top schools on the East Coast: Georgetown, Bucknell and Villanova. The culture of Villanova automatically enthralled Gingrich. Meeting the players and coaches on his first visit solidified his decision.
Being on Villanova was a different team environment than Gingrich was accustomed to, but he preferred being surrounded by his teammates to be comforting. The personalized coaching that Gingrich and his teammates get here is incomparable. He spoke of the strong, familial bond that the swim team has with one another.
“[Coaches] talking to us out of the water, in the water,” Gingrich said. “That kind of care, you don’t get all of that in a club or high school.”
During his four years at Villanova, Gingrich made the Big East All-Academic Team for the 2023-2024 season and achieved the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the past seven semesters. Although he competes in the 50 Free, 50 Fly, and 100 Fly solo, his favorite event is the 200 Medley Relay, usually as the 50-fly leg.
Last weekend, Gingrich and the rest of the seniors on swim and dive celebrated their Sprintfest, which was also their senior meet, on campus with families in attendance.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Gingrich and the team will travel to the Big East Championship in Ocala, FL.
“I think being a leader of a team, a lot of it is leading by example,” Gingrich said. “I have 22 other teammates on my team that are also all my brothers as well. Our job is to trust this process and make sure everyone is trusting themselves because it’s a sport that you can get in your head really easily.”
After graduation in May, Gingrich will have well-deserved time off from school and swimming. Come July, the Villanova School of Business student will start full-time as a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City.
