Nansemond River High School senior Zach Doleman has signed on to swim at Hampden-Sydney College.

Doleman signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. The senior said he made his decision after he visited multiple schools and liked the atmosphere he found at H-SU.

“I toured nine colleges last year of all different sizes and people, but I was drawn the most by the small-school feel,” he said. “The school comes with a brotherhood and a great education.”

At first, Doleman said, he wasn’t sure about swimming in college. For him, swimming is more therapeutic than competitive, so he wasn’t sure he wanted to continue swimming competitively. But a conversation with Hampden-Sydney head coach Betsy Leonard about the program helped him make the choice.

“We talked about the program and how she makes it enjoyable for the swimmers,” he said. “I didn’t want an every-day swimming career which took over my life. She explained how she still wants us to have a college life outside of swimming.”

Doleman is still undecided on a major.

Hampden-Sydney is a NCAA Division III school and a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.