2025 OUA Swimmer Spotlight Series

The 2025 OUA Championships are coming up February 7-9 in Markham! Meet some of the Ontario University swimmers competing in this new series!

Quinton Rodgers finds a form of genuine comfort being in a swimming pool.

For him, there has never been a morale problem. In fact, being in water is more like a stimulant of sorts radiating confidence, discipline and enthusiasm for Rodgers, who celebrates his 21st birthday in February.

Creative, intelligent and always seeking ways to learn, when Rodgers is not in a bathing suit, what takes over is his passion for the world of robotics.

Firmly entrenched in science and technology, when asked to elaborate on what robotics means to him, Rodgers went on to explain that it’s about tinkering with the design, digital construction, operation, and the use of machines that carry out a complex series of action.

There’s also something called performance.

That’s a word that Rodgers is mindful about in the world of swimming.

Known by the nickname “Q”, Rodgers was a student at St. Mary’s Catholic High in Owen Sound. He was the kind of teenager, who was very active, and a multi-sport athlete competing in a variety of school and community activities.

Academically sound, a few years ago, Rodgers – like the rest of us – got zapped with sudden closures of almost everything. The reason: a pandemic. Absurdity became reality when a coronavirus spread amongst people causing panic, chaos, stress and a calamity of uncertainty.

Rodgers was at a temporary loss at what it all meant.

Chosen Most Valuable Player in swimming while in grades 10 and 11, pools were suddenly closed. Other things quickly shut down. Swimming grinded to a halt. As a creative individual, when the weather cooperated and the season changed, Rodgers found himself swimming in nearby Georgian Bay.

“Tough times, no swimming … but I did find a robotics program that intrigued me,” he said. “I had been shopping for a university and was able to join a team that built a robot that would shoot foam rings 14 to 18 feet into the air. It was the first time that I had a real passion for something.”

That project would win a bronze medal for the four-member team at an event called the “FIRST® Tech Challenge”. It also paved the way for Rodgers to attend Queen’s University in Kingston where he is currently a third-year student in the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Program.

Just in case you wondered, it’s a degree program for students - strong in physics, chemistry, calculus, algebra - who thrive on integrating mechanical and electrical systems, combining hardware with software. Got it?

Rodgers did stick with swimming, from those early days of lessons to working hard to establish eight individual age records with the Owen Sound Aquatic Club. Rodgers remembers the days when he had lapsed behind friends.

However, the time came when hewould make an amazing advancement in the sport. Calling him an average swimmer was no longer the case.

Rodgers attributes success in the 400-metres individual medley and 1,500-metres freestyle to dedication, hard work and a positive attitude to excel.

“There was a time, before age seven, when I couldn’t finish a full length of the pool,” he said. “My older sisters liked to say that I couldn’t swim. I had thought about giving (swimming) up. But one day, everything just clicked – from endurance to determination.”

It was a form of manic activity, fast movement from one thing to another.

Rodgers knows the difference between reality and dreams. A super fan of swimming, Rodgers will tell you that he’s no powerhouse - or even superhero in water. Call him a faithful ambassador of athletics at his university.

“I may not be the fastest swimmer, but I am an uplifting guy cheering everyone on,” he said. “I am the loudest at poolside, encouraging others and reminding everyone that we are competing and always finding a way to celebrate – even if the race doesn’t go the way we had expected. “

Rodgers knows that well. This past year, Queen’s finished in 10th place at the 2024 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships held at Brock University in St. Catharines. Last place, no medals and Rodgers was still tossing kudos to his teammates.

Rodgers, who knows that a healthy person is also a happy person, still hangs on to a phrase from his parents – “try everything and do what you love”.

“I’ve never represented Ontario or Canada in swimming and don’t see myself competing at the Olympics,” he said. “But that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying swimming, having fun, meeting new people, building confidence and doing what I can to make the world a better place.”

Swim Ontario, in conjunction with the OUA, values the commitment to the sport by athletes, coaches and officials in Ontario and Canadian universities. This story is part of a series that has the spotlight shining on a variety of individuals, and their post-secondary institutions, who excel in academics, swimming and community life.

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.