With no wetsuit, Nelson completed the swim against 12 mph winds, an incoming tide and 66 F ocean water with a total time of seven hours and four minutes. Wetsuits not only serve as a tool to warm the body in cold water temperatures, but also add a small amount of buoyancy which can greatly assist in open water swimming. All of these factors on top of the great distance Nelson covered in the water is hard to fathom, but Nelson simply said, “A recon Marine would rather die than quit.”

WILMINGTON – UNC Wilmington’s swimming and diving team reported a cluster of seven COVID-19 cases on Monday, Oct. 12. The report marks the second outbreak amongst UNCW Athletics; the first coming exactly...