GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four student-athletes represented Cleveland State at the 2021 U.S. Open Championships in Greensboro, N.C. this week. This long course meters meet is part of the USA Swimming Championship Series, where swimming's biggest stars shine.

Head Coach Hannah Burandt said, "This meet gave our program a chance to compete with world-class athletes, professional athletes, and USA Olympians. We haven't trained long course since September, so this speaks to the effort that these four individuals put forward to be swimming right at or better than their lifetime bests."

Burandt continued, "Our kids also got a chance to interact and observe top athletes and coaches. The stories and lessons that were shared will not only benefit these four individuals but will be able to be brought back to the team."

The Vikings had 12 athletes qualify for the event but elected to take just four swimmers to the event.

Coach Burandt on this, "It is a great accomplishment for our program to have 12 swimmers qualify for such a big event. The 12 athletes that qualified were very deserving and to see eight of them elect to focus on finals and their academics shows the true meaning of being a student-athlete and balancing their athletic career with the classroom. These eight will have a chance to qualify again in the coming years, and when they do, it'll be that much more special for them and the program."

Timothy Kubacki
Kubacki started off the competition on Thursday evening, swimming in the second heat of the 200 IM prelims. He finished with a time of 2:08.09, qualifying for the C-final. In the final, he swam a 2:07.00, which was the second-fastest in the heat, placing him 18th overall in the event.

Kubacki started off Friday's day of racing with a 4:37.01 in the 400 IM prelims, putting him in the C-final. In the final, he swam a 4:36.51, putting him 19th overall in the event.

On the final day, Kubacki swam a 2:05.23 in the second heat of the 200 Backstroke, earning a spot in the B-final.

Kubacki said, "The U.S. Open was an experience of a lifetime. To represent Cleveland State on the national stage meant a lot and to do it with three teammates by my side meant even more. Cleveland State swimming is on the rise and to represent this school on the national stage was incredible. Go Vikes!"

Bob Fick
Fick kicked off his weekend in the 100 Butterfly, swimming a 54.62 in the second heat, setting him up in the B-final. The sophomore came in fifth during the final, clocking a 55.30, placing him 13th overall.

Fick capped off the weekend for Cleveland State with a time of 2:06.67 in the second heat of the 200 Butterfly, qualifying for the B-final.

Fick said, "The U.S. Open was an amazing experience, and to compete at such a high state for Cleveland State was an honor."

Jack Krusinski
Krusinski began his competition in the 100 Breaststroke, swimming a 1:06.88.

Krusinski concluded his races with the 200 Breaststroke, finishing in 2:29.25.

Krusinski said, "Participating in the U.S. Open was an experience that I will never forget. Hearing my dad (also a CSU swimming alumni) talk about his experiences at a national meet 30 years later, I now know I will be doing the same. It was great to represent Cleveland State at the national level and be a part of the rise of this program."

Dominic Niedzialek
Niedzialek swam a 57.05 in the 100 Backstroke, placing him in the B-final. Niedzialek came in fifth during the final and was 13th overall after clocking a 58.11.

Niedzialek concluded the competition on Saturday, swimming a 2:06.74 in the second heat of the 200 Backstroke, earning a spot in the B-final.

Niedzialek said, "Going to the U.S. Open gave me the opportunity to compete with some of the most elite athletes in the world and learn from this experience and carry it forward into our conference championships. It was great to represent CSU at a meet like this and show other big schools that we can compete with them."

Coach Burandt concluded with, "We accomplished everything we set out to accomplish at the US Open. We walked away with crucial experiences that will be woven into the team culture as we set our sights on the championship phase of our season."

Up Next
The event wraps up the Fall semester for the Vikings. Following the meet, Cleveland State returns to the pool on Friday, January 7 for a two-day meet with UIC and IUPUI in Chicago, Illinois.