You may remember reading about Kirsten (Kirsty) Nitz ’16 in our autumn 2013 issue, following her freshman year on the Thunder women’s swim team. In just her second week of collegiate competition, she set two school records. Now three years later, Kirsty is an alumna, the first Wheaton swimmer to go undefeated in all of her 12 CCIW individual events, and the first Wheaton athlete in any sport to win five individual national NCAA titles. She is also a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American. 

But winning these awards hasn’t always been glamorous.

“I got the flu at nationals my sophomore year,” Kirsty says. “I was throwing up, but Coach Lederhouse encouraged me to swim anyway.” 

That was the day Kirsty broke the national record for the 100-yard butterfly. 

“Totally through God’s power,” she says. 

Looking back on her four years as a student-athlete, Kirsty counts studying abroad in France and with Wheaton in the Holy Lands as some of her most valuable Wheaton experiences. She plans to pursue medical missions in West Africa after graduation.

“I appreciated having the opportunity to double major in Applied Health Science and French,” Kirsty says. “I’m grateful Wheaton is a Christian liberal arts school. My faith has been challenged and has grown here.” 

The secret to her amazing swimming career? 

“Do your best, and leave the rest up to God,” Kirsty says. “Coach Lederhouse always tells us we are ‘free to swim.’ God has made us free and already redeemed us. We don’t have to earn anything, and we can have peace that He is in control.”