On November 8, 2017, Natalie Kucsan officially committed  to swim for Louisiana State University. She signed her National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day along with 10 other Linganore athletes.

Kucsan was approached by several other colleges as well, including the University of Kentucky, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Nebraska. In the end, she decided on Louisiana State.

She also really liked the coaches and team spirit at the school. “LSU has everything I was looking for in a school and a future home for myself, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision,” she said.  

Kucsan also said, “I love how big the school is and the energy it has. I think it’s awesome that the school has a lot of other successful sports teams as well.”

Kucsan will be majoring in elementary education. Someday she wants to be a kindergarten teacher.

According to College Swimming,  Kucsan is currently ranked 8th in Maryland and 419rd in the country overall.

Kucsan has been swimming since she was small. Her coach has known her since she was 10 years old and has seen her improve over the years.

Her favorite parts about the sport are being able to meet new people, getting close to her personal best, and racing.

“Swimming is a tough sport, and Natalie has come a long way. She’s an amazing role model and I can’t wait to see what she’s gonna do in life, ” her coach, Jeb Beaver said.  

Kucsan believes that the hectic schedule of swimming for a club team, the Monocacy Aquatic Club, has prepared her for college sports.

“It is definitely more competitive and there’s more people on the same level as you, but I think it will help me improve a lot,” she said. 

Kucsan’s dad is excited for his daughter to go to college and hopes she will have a great time. “We really want to go and see her swim at meets, but it’s so far away, so we hope she’ll come swim at some schools nearby,” he said.

Kucsan also explained that LSU had a great tutoring system which will help her balance schoolwork and sports.

Natalie is thankful that her parents have been very supportive of her sport. They’ve always told her to keep trying and that she will do great things. Her parents, coaches, and friends encouraged her to do sports in college.

“After college I want to get a job as a kindergarten teacher, get married, have a family, and just have a nice life,” Kucsan said.

Natalie has had many successes and highlights in her swimming career and is equally adept at backstroke, freestyle and butterfly.  Her 100 Freestyle time is closet to under 51 seconds.