Adelphi University sophomore swimmer Ryan Kakimseit has become more than a standout in the pool. In just two seasons, he has emerged as the face of a rising program, a two-time NE10 Swimmer of the Year, and a humble leader whose medals rest not on his shelf—but inside the University’s trophy case.
In a four-lane pool tucked inside the modest walls of Woodruff Hall, a legacy is being carved with each stroke.
Sophomore swimmer and business major Ryan Kakimseit, a globetrotting son of a diplomat who at one time had no permanent place to call home, has made Adelphi University just that—a home. And not just for himself, but for a program and a community rising with him.
This season, Kakimseit not only repeated as the NE10 Championship Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year, but helped lead the Adelphi University men’s swimming and diving team to a historic second-place finish at the 2025 NE10 Championship—it was the best finish in the program’s history, eclipsing last year’s third-place result, and a defining mark for a group that walked into the final day of competition in first place.
Swimming Medals in the Case, Not on the Mantel
Kakimseit holds the national flag of Kazakhstan during first-year picture day, honoring his cultural heritage.
“Swimming is a lifestyle,” Kakimseit said. “It takes discipline, it takes intention. And every medal I’ve earned here? That’s our team’s success. That’s why they belong in Adelphi’s trophy case, not my dorm.”
Humility isn’t always a headlining trait in collegiate athletics, but it may just be the foundation of Kakimseit’s greatness. All his NE10 championship medals, along with his NE10 Swimmer and Rookie of the Year plaques from a year ago, are proudly displayed in the team’s trophy case that stands inside Adelphi’s Center for Recreation and Sports—a gesture emblematic of an individual who refuses to take sole credit for shared victories.
“Ryan is an outstanding young man,” described fourth-year head coach Marc Danin, who was also honored as the NE10 Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year for the second time in as many seasons. “He works four jobs, maintains a near-4.0 GPA, and still finds time to lead this team with integrity. He has helped transform this program in a significant way.”
Kakimseit swimming the butterfly event, in which he holds both individual records for Adelphi .
Shattering Records, Redefining Expectations
The transformation is undeniable. Kakimseit owns school records in both the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly, along with four of the program’s five relay records. The record board? Almost completely rewritten in Danin’s tenure, particularly this season.
But for Kakimseit? The journey wasn’t always linear. With a diplomat mother, he lived a transient childhood across multiple continents—a life of constant adaptation. That sense of impermanence would rattle most young athletes. It only propelled him forward.
“I know what it’s like to feel like a stranger,” he reflected. “But here, I know the faces when I walk into the [Ruth S. Harley University Center] or at the pool. I’m a name, not a number. That’s why I love Adelphi.”
Global Roots, Panther Pride
Kakimseit swimming the freestyle stroke during his first year as a Panther
Grounded in gratitude, Kakimseit’s character has inspired not just his teammates but other swimmers far beyond the Garden City campus.
“We’re a very international team. I always tell recruits, take the risk. If your heart believes in a program, follow it. The best-case scenario outweighs the worst tenfold,” Kakimseit explained.
A Mission to Elevate Adelphi Swimming
Despite the accolades to this point, he isn’t done. His sights are firmly set on qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Championship and helping the Panthers win their first-ever NE10 championship title.
“There’s a lot more to come,” Kakimseit said. “I need to get stronger, refine my training and keep pushing. But we’re going to do everything with more intent next year. We’re so close.”
Danin agrees, and he has a blueprint. The agenda includes more long-course training. A winter training trip to Barbados. Greater team commitment from the jump. “We were 34 points out this year. That’s a hair’s breadth. We’ll close the gap.”
The Ripple Effect for Adelphi Athletics
Kakimseit, pictured with his cap, ahead of his sophomore campaign.
The stakes are as personal as they are professional. For Danin, the drive to build a persistent championship program isn’t just about medals—it’s about legacy. And for Kakimseit, a legacy is everything.
“I want to graduate and look back at how far the team has come,” Kakimseit stated. “More than what I leave behind on the record board, I want to see growth in my teammates as people.”
And yet, the numbers don’t lie. In just two years, he has become one of the most decorated swimmers in the conference’s history—only the fifth swimmer ever to be named NE10 Men’s Swimmer of the Year in consecutive seasons. He may be soft-spoken, but his marks do the talking.
“My job isn’t done until [Ryan is] an All-American,” Danin said. “We’re not resting until we get him to nationals.”
For a swimmer who gives more credit than he takes, Ryan Kakimseit’s legacy is already set in motion. The ripples of his impact are spreading far beyond the lane lines—and they’re just getting started.