Purdue Wins CCS Nationals, Michigan State Has Top Point-Scorers

Kasey Venn approached last weekend’s College Club Swimming National Championships with a mix of fervor and melancholy.

“I went into it knowing this might be my last swim meet ever depending on if I decide to swim next year or not, so I really just wanted to leave it all in the pool,” says Venn, who swam collegiately for Michigan State until the men’s and women’s swim programs were cut in 2022. “Getting the high point was a goal of mine because I love to compete and win points for my team, so I wanted to score as many as I possibly could.”

In all, Venn competed in 10 events including relays over the three-day meet in the Ohio State pool, finishing with six first-place finishes.

Among her wins were three individual events (the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 100 IM, in which she set a CCS record) and three relays (800 free, 200 medley, and 200 mixed relay). In total, she scored 100 points to win the overall high-point title for women.

Likewise, fellow Spartan Travis Nitkiewicz earned several first-place finishes, highlighted by the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke, as well as the 200 IM. In the relays, he and his teammates were second in the 200 medley, fourth in the 400 medley, and fifth in the 800 free. He also scored 100 points.

Overall, he was happy with his relay times, as well as many of his individual times and left the meet excited for next year.

“My 50 breaststroke time in the 200 medley relay was less than 0.2 seconds off of my personal best, so I was excited,” Nitkiewicz says. “In the 200 breaststroke, I was out fast in the first half of the race and managed to hold on for the second half.

“Overall, I was happy with the outcomes, and my times were good. The only time I wish was faster was the 100 breast. On the start, when I dove off the block, the wedge slipped backwards, so my start was not very good.”

Venn, who has been swimming since she was 7, joined the Michigan State Swim Club after the varsity program was cut following her freshman season to continue doing what she loves. Her freshman year proved to be a was a breakout season for her—she set two individual and one relay school record. 

She competed at CCS Nationals last year when it was held at Georgia Tech, and she says both this year’s and last year’s meets were both fun, high-energy meets.

“Being able to have somewhere to go after having our varsity swim team cut was super awesome because it meant I could continue swimming despite being told by our university that they were no longer going to sponsor us,” she says. “I love competing at the USMS level because the environment reminds me how swimming is super fun.

“I love watching the different schools cheer on their teammates, and honestly, club nationals have been one of the most fun meets I’ve ever been to.”

Nitkiewicz, who has been swimming since age 8, says he decided to stay at Michigan State as a student even after the swim programs were cut.

“After competing at the collegiate varsity level, competing at the club level means I am doing this for me and for fun,” he says. “I am still taking it seriously and training hard for competitions, but at the Masters/club level, it is more about the enjoyment of the sport and competition than hundredths of a second or exactly what place you end up or scholarship money.

“Club nationals is one of my favorite weekends of the year because the atmosphere is so charged and exciting. Especially with the prelims-finals format, on Saturday and Sunday night, you can feel the energy of all the other teams there and it just makes me excited to race.”

Purdue Swim Club won the men’s meet (ahead of runner-up Liberty and third-place Michigan State) and the combined points competition (ahead of runner-up Virginia and third-place Michigan State). Virginia won the women's competition (ahead of runner-up Michigan State and third-place University of California, Berkeley).

Purdue Swim Club President Erik Bowes was overjoyed with the performance of his club members, particularly in the freestyle events. 

“We had three swimmers place in the top 10 for the 500 free and three finish among the top 5 of the 1000 free,” he says. “We’re all incredibly proud of everyone involved with Purdue Swim Club and could not have been happier with the outcome.

“Our club expectations were just to go out, everyone swim their best, and have as much fun as possible. I know both of our coaches are very competitive and their expectations from the start were to win, which is exactly what you look for in a coach.”

Bowes notes that this meet is unique in that many of the competing clubs are completely student-run.

He says it is difficult organizing and managing a swim club on its own, and it’s even more difficult—and rewarding—managing and organizing a team at a meet of this caliber.

“Everyone in the stands and on deck was cheering for every race, which I thought was pretty special since I feel like most times people only cheer for the finals or some of the more exciting races,” he says.

“But at this meet I saw people cheering for every single event, prelims and finals. Even the five heats of the 1000 free had people screaming and on their feet. Everyone definitely fed off the atmosphere and that’s part of what made it such a great meet.”