Camp seeking US top-level collegiate success

From the sun-soaked beaches of Australia to the upper Midwest of the United States.

Morningside University senior men's swimmer James Camp has a method to move from a Land Down Under.

"It just seems like there is so much more opportunity swimming-wise and honestly academically in the States," he mused. "Since I've made the move, I've never thought twice about it --- unless the weather is cold or it's snowing. I'm to the point where a post-graduate career is a possibility."

While he has come to love his current home in Siouxland, Australia's national swimming program gave him a great foundation to build off. Starting in sixth grade, Camp progressed from the get-go in the primary and upper-level school teams he was part of – so much so that he eventually made his way to the 2016 Olympic Trials and FINA World Championships qualifying.

The road to the top of the national swimming pyramid had humble beginnings. "My parents worked in the town over from where we live," he reflected. "There was a pool by the school they worked at that kind of served as a daycare for me for a time. They figured I'd enjoy it more, and I did. It seemed like I was always at that pool growing up."

Even with all of the state school accolades he gathered in his homeland, Camp knew there was more out there for him.

"In 2018, I knew some people that went over for college and swimming in the United States and were having fun living there," he said. "I figured, 'Why not me?'. I found my way to a community college in Oregon where I won the National Junior College Athletic Association 50-yard butterfly title as a sophomore."

During his JC competition days, Mustangs head coach Bryan Farris found his way to James. "He was recruiting a friend of mine from our team," Camp noted. "I had been looking at NAIA schools as my first option, so I started conversing with Coach Farris."

"He was just my type of coach," he added. "He was very personable and nice, and the stars further aligned when they had the major I was looking for."

After a junior year where he admitted he had to "learn the ropes" about campus and the swimming program, Camp jumped in with both feet in 2021-22, and the results have shown. After being a three-time Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference event champion, he is prepared to compete in three individual and four relays.

"I'm more in tune with what Coach and the team need from me as well what my academic plan is," he said. "It's never easy when you move somewhere in the early stages. I am much more at ease with how things operate on campus in and out of the pool and am enjoying my complete Morningside experience."

Could there be a professional swimming path in Camp's future? With another year of eligibility ahead of him, James knows he will be comfortable stepping away from competition when his Mustangs career concludes.

"I've tried the Olympics route," he said. "I'll be ready at that time to get into my career, and who knows, maybe get back to the beaches and home. It's not very easy finding a beach close by here, but the US does have its strong points."