St. Thomas University wins first national title in school history

This is a swim squad in a hurry.

And nobody embodies that more than Steven Aimable.

The St. Thomas University men’s swimming team won an NAIA national title on Saturday in Columbus, Georgia, defeating second-place Keiser in a close battle, 640.5 to 624.5.

Keiser had won five consecutive national championships before getting dethroned by the Bobcats.

STU, a school which was founded in Miami 63 years ago, had never won a team national championship in any sport prior to this past weekend.

As for being in a hurry, that applies to the Bobcats, which reached the NAIA mountaintop in just their third year as a program.

It also applies to Aimable, a native of French Guiana who is currently competing in the African Games.

“Steven swam his last race on Saturday with his bags already packed for Africa,” STU swim coach Caesar Asadi said. “As soon as the race was over, he put some shorts on and jumped in an Uber taking him to the airport.”

Aimable won two individual national titles last weekend — in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200 butterfly. In fact, he won his last race before speeding off to the airport, and STU captain Christian Perez took his place on the podium.

Prior to this season, the Bobcats never had a three-time national champ. This year, however, they have three two-time champs: Aimable, Daniel Laureyssen (200 free, 500 free) and Alex Marrero (100 back, 100 free).

Asadi has special praise for Laureyssen, who anchors STU’s relay teams.

“When he steps up on the block, the dread you feel from opponents is palpable,” Asadi said. “I don’t think he has ever lost a relay race to Keiser.

“His victories feel inevitable no matter what place we’re in when it’s his turn to swim. He’s that guy. He’s ‘him’ as the kids would say.”

Marrero, a native of Cuba who came to the United States at age 10, had perhaps the toughest road to the top of the podium.

A nursing major, Marrero missed 50 percent of STU’s practices this season due to his rigorous academic schedule.

“Nursing is an insane major,” Asadi said. “He’s in our library six-to-eight hours a day, studying. When he’s in the gym, he has his study notecards on the weight racks.”

Missing all those practices damaged Marrero’s endurance in his two grueling events.

“After 25 yards, your legs are gone,” Marrero said. “Your arms hurt, and you’re not getting enough oxygen. But I put my head down and finished.”

Marrero didn’t just finish — he won.

Twice.

Then again, the Bobcats overcoming obstacles was the story of their season.

For example, even though the national finals were held indoors, there was a curious two-hour lightning delay on Friday. Asadi sent his swimmers back to the hotel to rest.

But that rest was short-lived.

“At 7:10 p.m., [Asadi] sent us a text that the meet was starting up against at 7:30,” Marrero said.

The swimmers scrambled and arrived at the Columbus Aquatic Center at 7:28.

Aimable changed into his swim suit on the bus. He then sprinted to the pool and dove into the water at 7:31 – with no warmup.

No worries, though, Aimable won the event.

Teammate Ruben Theunissen was in that same race. Due to the lack of a warmup, he dislocated his right shoulder during the race.

Yet, he finished that race and another one the next day, giving the Bobcats 10 valuable points in a very close competition.

“In our eyes, he’s a fighter,” Laureyssen said of Theunissen, who completed his college career last weekend. “He’s a guy who won’t quit.

“When it was suggested that he not swim [due to the injury], he said, ‘There’s nothing to discuss.’

“It was his last meet, and he wanted to go out on top. It took all of us to win. But if it weren’t for him …”

Asadi said projections prior to nationals had STU losing by 141 points.

“This was David versus Goliath,” Asadi said. “We needed a miracle performance from so many of our guys, and that’s what happened.

“Keiser was the five-time national champs. But we said, ‘Not today. Not this year.’ It was Miami over West Palm Beach.”