Kansas State Swim Club Competes in Central Showdown
Students from the club traveled to Topeka to participate in the recent Central Showdown meet.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Swimming
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Despite Kansas State University lacking a varsity swimming program or campus pool, the student-led swim and dive club continues to compete regionally. Members recently participated in the Central Showdown held at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Why it matters
The club serves as the primary outlet for students to maintain a competitive swimming environment at the university level. It relies on off-campus facilities for training to sustain their athletic operations throughout the academic year.
Mary Kate Russell finished the 50-yard butterfly in 32.57 seconds and the 200-yard freestyle in 2:26.47, while Tehya Cox-Potter recorded a 41.27-second breaststroke and a 1:21.07 individual medley.
The players
Mary Kate Russell
She is a student athlete who placed third in the 50-yard butterfly and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at the Central Showdown.
Tehya Cox-Potter
She is a member of the club who competed in both the 50-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard individual medley.
Guzman-Soto
This club member completed the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:29.51 at the October meet.
The details
The swim and dive club sustains its program by practicing five days a week at Genesis Health Clubs. Members represent the university at two to three meets each semester to stay active in competitive swimming.
Timeline
October 10, 2026: The Central Showdown occurred in Topeka.
Spring 2026: Mary Kate Russell competed in Colorado.
The Big Picture
The club exists outside the NCAA Division I athletic governance model, following the pattern of non-varsity sports organizations that maintain community interest through independent regional competition.
The club maintains a strict schedule of five practices per week at Genesis Health Clubs to prepare for upcoming semester meets. These regional results demonstrate the ongoing commitment of student athletes to compete despite the absence of university-sanctioned facilities.
The takeaway
Student-led clubs prove that dedication can overcome the lack of institutional resources in collegiate sports. Athletes interested in similar programs should monitor student activity fairs to find local opportunities for joining campus clubs.
Further reading
For more information on the sport, visit Swimming.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kansas State Collegian.
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