Fourth year Industrial Engineering major Katie Baldwin has always loved to swim, being in the water and messing around in the pool. Originally from Phelps, N.Y., Baldwin was in eighth grade when the school chartered its first swim team. “I was like, ‘Oh! I’ll try it out and see how it goes!’”

It went well. In fact, the next year Baldwin swam for the school’s varsity team during its inaugural season. She’s been on swim teams ever since. This season, however, will be Baldwin’s last at RIT. Although she is in a five year program, NCAA rules only allow her to swim for four.

Baldwin is a proven and accomplished athlete at RIT. During the 2012 – 2013 year she broke two school records, one individual and one relay. This year she has broken six school records, two individual and four relay. “It was a great way to end my swimming career,” she said. Although swimming is a very individual sport, Baldwin said she loves the support and structure of her team.

With one more year to go at RIT, Baldwin said she is not ready to leave the realm of RIT athletics just yet. “I’m actually joining the crew team, switching over.” Post-college, Baldwin has given thought to continuing her career as a swimmer. “I’m definitely going to have to take a few years off… there’s masters swimming, so maybe down the road I’ll probably end up doing something like that. It’s hard to see my life without it.”