Ewing, NJ … When youth and high school athletes aspire to play sports in college, there are many stirring thoughts that come to mind that romanticize their dream. They picture wearing the school apparel, traveling to visit different campuses, suiting up for NCAA championship tournaments, and obviously, competing with and against elite athletes.
 
On the morning of September 22, 2012, over 500 prospective, current, and former athletes stood oceanfront as part of a stirring moment that not one of them could have ever imagined when considering collegiate athletics. They stood donning swim suits, caps, and sweatshirts, some alike and others different. But they stood for one common purpose. They all came together to show their heart and support for a friend, a teammate, and a fellow swimmer. They stood, and then swam for Mike Heaney '09.
 
Heaney is a former student-athlete for The College of New Jersey men's swimming and diving team. At the College, he was a team captain, record holder, and NCAA national championship qualifier. On April 11, 2012, Heaney sustained serious injuries from a bicycle accident. Since that day, he has been in a semi-conscious state and in a full-care rehabilitation facility at Willow Creek located in Somerset, NJ.

Devastated by the news, The College of New Jersey swimming community was compelled to organize an event to support the Heaney family and also bring familiar faces together to cope with a difficult ordeal. Spearheaded by TCNJ head coach Brian Bishop, and Lions' swimming alums Steve Swenson '06, Chris Levin '05, Liam Gallagher '08, and Daniel Schupsky '01, the concept for 1500 Meters for Mike was born. With the help of the Belmar Beach Patrol and Rescue Squad, more than 500 participants soaked the beaches on a picture-perfect morning to raise over $20,000 for their swimming friend.
 
“The support that was shown for Mike was overwhelming,” said Bishop, who coached Heaney at TCNJ from the 2005-06 through 2008-09 seasons. “The turnout exceeded our expectations and much of that is due to the swimming community being a tight-knit community. I think a lot of people put themselves in Mike's situation and realize that something unexpected can impact your life in an instant.”
 
The community was not limited to the Lions' men's swimming and diving program. Women's head coach Jennifer Harnett '93 created awareness amongst athletes and alums. And it extended beyond that. Rider University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and St. Peter's College were among the many institutions that participated in the event. Several youth club swimming and diving teams who train at TCNJ's Aquatic Center also joined the large contingency of supporters.
 
Registration for the event was at 7:30 a.m., and by 9 a.m., swimmers lined the beach and raced into the ocean in waves of 100. They immediately encountered choppy waters and swam straight out before turning right. The swimmers traveled along the coastline and turned back toward shore, changed direction diagonally to the left, and then returned home to complete the 1500 meters.
 
Standing ashore and also in attendance at the event was Mike's mother, Sheila and younger brother, J.P. They made the trip to Belmar and were deeply touched by the magnitude of outreach for their son and family. They would return to Willow Creek later in the day to tell Mike about what they had witnessed and the familiar faces they had seen. Sheila returned to the parking lot to grab a few things from the car, while J.P. remained inside the room. Upon hearing the voice of his brother, and for the first time since April 11, Mike made voluntary movements with his left arm.
 
Just hours after hundreds of miles were covered in the Atlantic Ocean by close friends and colleagues, the most profound distance accomplished was one likened to a bicep curl in Somerset, NJ.
 
Collegiate athletics is an unparalleled establishment – something that is known best by those directly involved. It is a magnetic, fulfilling experience that sometimes gets overshadowed by records, statistics, starting roles, and sometimes by unsavory incidents. At its heart, however, is an intangible bond of relationships that manifest amongst teammates, coaches, and even opponents. It is understood that when a family member is suffering, the responsibility lies on the sum of parts to rally around that member to lift them up.
 
“What transpired on Saturday reinforced what we are all about,” Bishop said, who characterized Heaney at TCNJ as a vociferous leader who had the physical prowess of a football player. “To see all our alums and athletes out there together in that atmosphere gave me the feeling that we're doing something right.”
 
As is often referenced in the line of competition, the true test of character is not challenged during times of triumph. It is tested in moments of uncertainty, moments of hardship, and moments of despair. Over 500 prospective, current, and former athletes displayed their character on a Saturday morning at the beach. They weren't there because they had to be. They were there because they wanted to give Mike Heaney a lift.
 
Note: The event, 1500 Meters for Mike, will be an annual event. The College of New Jersey swimming and diving program will also continue to build and seek opportunities to raise money with all proceeds going to the Heaney family.