Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Swimming and Diving Spans Globe to Find Success
2/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 10, 2010
A person may need a world atlas to locate the many destinations from which student-athletes have blazed trails to South Florida to be key contributors for the Florida Atlantic University swimming and diving team this winter.
Men's swimmers David Rudolf and Csaba Pek have joined Eszter Bucz of the women's team from Budapest, Hungary; men's swimmer Mikolaj Czarnecki is from Lublin, Poland; women's swimmer Jonna Nyback has come from Koping, Sweden; and Ewa Jamborska of the women's squad is from Katowice, Poland.
And, not surprisingly, they were all recruited to the FAU program by Head Coach Steve Eckelkamp and Assistant Coach Oliver Agh, a Hungary native. Eckelkamp has been the team's coach since 1989, while Agh was a standout swimmer for the Owls from 1996-2000 and is a member of FAU's Athletic Hall of Fame.
"Knowing that there were fellow Hungarians (as teammates and coaches) that would be here to help me was a big part in me choosing FAU," said Bucz, a freshman. "They were in my shoes a few years ago and knew what I would be going through - adjusting to college competition, classes and coming to America . . . It has been hard but also enjoyable at the same time."
"My Hungarian coach knew Oliver (Agh)," said Pek, a sophomore. "And the fact that David (Rudolf) had come over (to FAU) the year before made the decision a little easier."
All of the overseas swimmers have made successful transitions to competing in America. Four of the six have earned Sun Belt Conference "Swimmer of the Week" honors this winter; Bucz set a freshman school record in her first collegiate race and has posted a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA championships; Pek has ranked among the conference's top swimmers; Czarnecki and Rudolph have improved throughout the season; while Nyback and Jamborska have been consistent scorers for the women's team.
"I just try to do my best in every race and meet," said Bucz. "There have been times this season when I have just felt tired, but have been able to find a way to win a race."
Bucz has had one big fan in her standout freshman year - Pek, who is a year removed from blazing a trail in the FAU pool as a freshman after coming from Hungary's capital city, which has nearly two million residents.
"Eszter has had an amazing season," said Pek. "I have been there to give her support and advise when she needed it, but her swimming accomplishments just speak for themselves."
Each of the international-based swimmers excels in different events: Bucz has been the most versatile, shining in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley; Pek has won races in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley events; Nyback leads in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events; Rudolf dives into the pool in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley; Czarnecki showcases his skills in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle; and Jamborska competes in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke races. All six also contribute to the Owls' successful relay teams.
But if competing at the collegiate level wasn't challenging enough, going to school and balancing the practice time might be the biggest adjustment that Bucz, Pek and Rudolf have discovered.
"Our season begins in October and will end in late February," said Rudolf, a junior. "However, we are training and practicing before the season starts and stayed (in Boca Raton) during the winter break to get in some additional training." "As a swimmer, you just have to be dedicated and balance the schoolwork with the meets and practices," said Pek, a computer science major. "Coach Eckelkamp cuts down the practices once the season is over. This allows us to concentrate solely on being a student."
Now, the international swimming group is concentrating on helping FAU's teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference championships on that will take place from Monday, February 15 through Saturday, February 20 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Players Mentioned
