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Kathy Van Valkenburg Swieter
Kathy Van Valkenburg Swieter

Experience:
1991 Inductee
Sport:
Swimming 1981-85



The NCAA's timing couldn't have been better for Kathy Van Valkenburg Swieter. The four-year standout began her swimming career at Oakland the same time the governing body added women's sports. Kathy and the Pioneers benefitted greatly from the decision.

Kathy was a 19-time All-American in her four seasons in the OU pool. She won three National Championships in 1982, including two individual titles in the 50 yard backstroke and the 100 yard individual medley. She was also a member of the 200 medley relay national champions that set a national record during the 1982 campaign. The versatile swimmer earned her All-American honors in the backstroke, butterfly, and in the individual medley. Her record was in the 100 back was finally broken earlier this year.

The two year co-captain helped OU to three top five national finishes, including a third place that equaled the schools best ever until the 1990 team won the national championships.

Kathy earned a bachelor of science degree in human resource and development with a minor in psychology from Oakland in 1985, and is now a special education teacher and a high school swimming coach in Grand Rapids, where she lives with her husband, Kelly. She works with physically and mentally impaired children at Lincoln School, and has coached the Grand Rapids Catholic Central girls swim squad for the past two years after coaching at Ottawa Hills High School from the previous three seasons.

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