New Jersey Institute of Technology Athletics

2017-18: Broke five personal records, in the 100 breast (1:07.63), 200 breast (2:32.58), 100 fly (58.99), 50 free (23.24), and 100 free (52.25).

2016-17: Competed in five meets for the Highlanders. … swam a personal-best 1:59.40 in the 200 free at the Manhattan/St. Francis Brooklyn meet. … swam the 50 back in 29.12 and the 100 back in 1:05.61 at the Howard/Drexel meet.

2015-16: Competed in seven meets for the Highlanders in his freshman season. … swam a season-best 25.29 50 free at the Army/Binghamton tri-meet. … placed 10^th at the Saint Peter’s/VMI tri-meet with a season-best time of 1:12.44. … at the ECAC Winter Championships, where NJIT took home 1^st place, swam a season-best time in the 100 free (52.68) and the 200 free (2:00.07). … was part of the 3^rd place 200 free relay team at the Drexel/Howard tri-meet that finished in 1:37.37. … named to 2016 CCSA All-Academic List.

Prior to NJIT: Member of the River Dell Regional High School boys swimming and diving team. ... recevied the High Point Award, the Egg Award and the MVP Award at the River Dell Regional swimming and diving banquet. ... also ran track at River Dell Regional.

Personal: Steven Akdemir. ... son of Ozen and John Akdemir. ... chemical engineering major.

Getting to know Steven Akdemir ...

Why did you choose NJIT?
The challenging engineering program that this university offers, in addition to Division one athletics and the fact that it is located near my hometown really drove me to attend NJIT.

When you were choosing between college swimming programs, what was unique about the NJIT Men's Swimming & Diving program?
Though the team trains hard, it is clear that all of its members hold academics at the top of their priority list, which was reassuring for an incoming freshman, like me, who was anxious about balancing practice and school work.

Why did you choose to be part of the NJIT Men's Swimming & Diving program?
As well as wanting to create bonds and find opportunities to grow as a student athlete and as a person, I chose to be part of this team because it seems like a good fit for someone who wants to see how far he can push his physical and mental boundaries.