Jan Delkeskamp came to the United States from Germany for an opportunity to compete in swimming and pursue academics. In Europe, as he puts it, "you either choose to go with one or the other."
Delkeskamp chose Queens (North Carolina) partly because of a promise made by the coaches who recruited him. He refers to it as the "yes, and" promise: Yes, student-athletes can excel athletically in the pool and academically in the classroom.
It's a promise the senior has seen come to fruition several times, most recently at the 2022 Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. There, his team won its seventh straight NCAA title, and he was named the men's NCAA Elite 90 Award winner.
The Elite 90 recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring individuals who have reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. (See the 2021-22 winners here.)
"Being privileged with receiving this recognition, it shows me that Queens is truly committed to the promises they have made to their students and that we provide platforms for student-athletes to excel academically and athletically," Delkeskamp said on a recent Social Series episode. "At the same time, it's a huge thank you to all the support I've received, not only from my coaches but also from my professors and my fellow classmates who have enabled me in a team effort to thrive for academic excellence."
A 4.0 student majoring in business and finance, with a minor in international politics and diplomacy, Delkeskamp has experienced an abundance of success in and out of the pool. With several All-America honors in his career, he also contributed to three team NCAA championships, missing out on the chance for a fourth because the 2020 championship was canceled due to COVID-19.
For Delkeskamp, like all student-athletes, the pandemic's impact was felt for more than a season.
There were the early stages of isolation and quarantine. Then, returning to campus with stringent testing and safety protocols. Practices and competitions looked different, with student-athletes never knowing whether events might be canceled or postponed. Variants came and went, but Delkeskamp said the pillars of the Queens swimming and diving program allowed him and his teammates to thrive despite it all.
"There was a lot of adversity that we faced, a lot of challenges we needed to overcome, but knowing that the true foundation of our team culture — our values of excellence, urgency, social responsibility, communication and so on — we always had a foundation to fall back on," he said. "No matter what we had (to face), we know ultimately that we aren't going through this by ourselves but as a team."
He and his teammates found strength in the opportunities they had in front of them, he said. For them, it was a matter of perspective. They had an opportunity to study, train and compete, albeit under stressful circumstances, but many others across the world were dealing with more serious challenges in their daily lives.
"What has always drawn our attention back is that we are privileged with being in the pool together, that we are allowed to practice, that we are mentally and physically capable of practicing, that we don't need to sit in quarantine or isolation," Delkeskamp said. "All these things just change your perspective, reframe and transfer the spirit of what you do in the pool to a different level, because when you're grateful for a practice opportunity, you will have a completely different experience."
Nearing the end of his enriching collegiate experience, Delkeskamp said he has three main tips for student-athletes to make the most of theirs.
First, he said to "know your network" and take advantage of the "many support resources" available. For him, that included roommates, teammates, coaches, professors and faculty.
"Queens staff and faculty have done an outstanding job of allowing us to thrive in the pool but making sure we're taking care of business in the classroom, because ultimately when you're excelling in the classroom, you will excel in the pool," he said. "Just by leveraging your network, you will have so many more opportunities."
His second tip goes back to appreciation. Specifically, he recommended making it a habit of thanking those support resources.
"You should always remember that when someone is helping you in that incredible way to say thank you and be grateful for these little things because they will ultimately make the difference," he said.
Lastly, he emphasized the importance of self-care and for student-athletes to think of themselves as more than their athletic and academic performances.
"It is about finding a balance between work in the classroom, work in the pool and enjoying the moment, finding rest, spending quality time with your friends and family around you, because ultimately you will only be as good as you're rested," he said. "If you keep pouring into those forms of excellence, (your cup) will be empty at some point. So, know how to recharge and how to reset, and then you're off to a great college experience."
Delkeskamp holds a 4.0 GPA in business and finance. The native of Germany also earned All-American honors at every NCAA championship he competed in while at Queens.
