Nick Rounds Breaking Out For South Dakota, a Program on the Rise
California. Florida. Texas. Indiana. They are states known for routinely producing some of the top swimmers in the United States, including a hefty percentage of Olympians. South Dakota? It will never be known as a regular hotbed of talent, but it certainly made its presence felt at last week’s United States National Championships, where Nick Rounds put together one of the best meets of his life.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Rounds is heading into his junior year at the University of South Dakota, where he was lured by the recruiting efforts of Associate Head Coach Anthony Harris. A standout at the high school level, Rounds has developed into a national-caliber performer in the city of Vermillion, qualifying for the 2026 NCAA Championships ahead of his recent trip to Nationals in Southern California.
At Dowling Catholic High School, Rounds was a two-time silver medalist at the Iowa State Championships in the 50-yard freestyle, and also earned a silver medal in the 100 backstroke. Also a high jumper on the track and field team, it wasn’t until late in the recruiting process that Rounds was contacted by USD, with Harris making the call. A visit to the school confirmed it was the right setting for Rounds, who quickly became a headliner for the Coyotes.
“He really pushes the bar,” Harris said of Rounds. “Athletically, he’s really changed the program dynamic for us. His vibe and his personality really mesh well with our group, and I think the other guys are starting to follow suit, and they’re starting to realize the possibilities for themselves. So, he’s really done so much for our program.”
How much? Digest these performances.
Last March, Rounds and teammate Alex Parkinson, a distance freestyler, became the first USD swimmers to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships, accomplishing the feat through stellar performances at the Summit League Championships. Rounds exited the meet with three individuals titles, as he went 19.15 in the 50 freestyle, 42.98 in the 100 freestyle and 45.21 in the 100 backstroke. His marks in the 50 free and 100 back were good for conference records.
Rounds’ success in the short-course pool carried over to Nationals, where he excelled in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, the latter event featuring an appearance in the championship final. Seeded 52nd with a time of 55.63, Rounds ripped a prelims performance of 54.38 to land the eighth and final slot in the evening’s title race. At night, Rounds backed up his morning outing by going 54.41 for eighth. For good measure, Rounds went 22.50 in the 50 freestyle, a personal best.
“It was a great swim,” Rounds said of his 100 backstroke. “I was super happy with it. I got to come back (and swim at night), and I was like, I’m eighth. I can’t go anywhere, but up. So I took it out hard. I died, but that’s what it is. I was very happy with that swim. It was a whole lot of fun.”
The reigning Summit League Swimmer of the Year, Rounds – along with Parkinson – is looking to elevate the South Dakota program, which is led by head coach Jason Mahowald. The team finished in second place at last summer’s Conference Champs and the roster looks strong enough to battle for the team title during the 2026-27 campaign. Beyond his college focus, Rounds plans to be at the 2028 United States Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
It helps that the school opened a new facility in April 2025, one with a long-course pool that encourages team members to remain on campus for the summer. Previously, most of the program’s swimmers headed home after the school year to log long-course training. With Rounds and Parkinson leading the way, bigger things could come from a school located in a place that typically doesn’t get much attention.
“They really have been (changing the program),” Harris said of Rounds and Parkinson. “Not just athletically, but also their personalities and how they vibe with the rest of our team. They’re really starting to, I think, come into their own and really push the bar for our program, and our other athletes are following suit.”
Rounds is eager for South Dakota’s profile to grow.
“That’s the goal here,” he said. “I love wearing anything with South Dakota, just getting the name out there. We are a rising (team).”
Special thanks to Greg Eggert, the USAS Vice President, for conducting the interviews with Nick Rounds and Anthony Harris.
