Sophomore Ali Usama made history for Rockhurst University on Wednesday, Feb. 12, becoming the school’s first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) champion in swimming. Usama claimed the title in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.78 seconds at the 2025 GLVC Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
The meet, held Feb. 11-15 at Elkhart Health and Aquatics in Elkhart, Indiana, featured 11 men’s and 10 women’s teams from the GLVC. While Rockhurst finished seventh overall, Usama’s milestone was a defining moment for the program in its second year of competition.
“It was exciting, fun and unexpected,” Usama said. “I didn’t know I could do it and didn’t necessarily expect it because I wasn’t ranked as the top swimmer going into the race.”
Usama credited his teammates and the team’s culture for pushing him to succeed.
“My teammates always encourage me to do my best in practice and in meets,” Usama said. “When I was in the final, they were all cheering me on and wanted me to win, which ultimately helped me do it.”
Sophomore Karsen Bennett echoed that sentiment, highlighting Usama’s impact on the team.
“Ali brings a ton of energy to practice. He’s always pushing himself and the people around him,” Bennett said.
Usama also credited Doug Schranck, Rockhurst’s head men’s and women’s swimming and dive coach, for his development as a swimmer.
“Doug always tries to do what’s best for me and wants me to be the best swimmer I can be,” Usama said.
Usama’s swimming journey began at age 7 in Cairo, Egypt where he trained with the Wadi Degla Swim Academy, one of the country’s top programs. A mechanical engineering major, Usama was drawn to Rockhurst because it allowed him to compete at a high level while pursuing his degree, an opportunity not available in Egypt, where competitive swimming is limited to club teams.
Another key factor in Usama’s decision to attend Rockhurst was Schranck, who previously coached at Drury University, one of the nation’s top NCAA Division II programs. During his tenure, Schranck led Drury’s women’s team to five consecutive GLVC championships and four NCAA runner-up finishes.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Usama and the Rockhurst swim program have a promising future ahead as they continue to set records and build a legacy of success.
