Kayla McCormick didn’t know where life would take her, but she knew the starting point was at the University of Northern Iowa. Wanting to pursue swimming at the collegiate level, the Caledonia, Minn., native originally planned on that happening at a D-III school.
However, when McCormick visited UNI, she loved the program, campus and coaching staff. Wanting to stretch herself, she decided to go to school there. It was also there that a teammate led a team Bible study and took McCormick under her wing. By her sophomore year, she began to grasp the concept of salvation and let the Lord work in her life.
“This was all new to me, and I just started to crave the Word,” she said. “I loved and thirsted for it.”
As FCA Area Representative Ken Trautmann and his wife, Lynn, poured into her budding relationship with Christ, McCormick strengthened her love for Scripture and fellow athletes. Feeling called to more of a leadership position, McCormick became an FCA leader the spring of her junior year, and started an FCA Bible study for the swim team as a senior.
“By the end of the year, almost every girl on my team had stepped foot in the study,” McCormick noted.
Her faith transferred to her performance in the pool, as well. Using verses she memorized and daily committing herself to Him in sport and service, her identity was transformed.
McCormick with Ken and Lynn Trautmann.
“When I first became a collegiate swimmer, that’s who I was,” she admitted. “I wanted everyone to know I was a swimmer. But as I began to grow with Christ and learn, I began to see that’s not my identity. My identity is Christ and Christ alone, and swimming was something I did as a gift to Him.”
McCormick felt the tug of sports ministry her senior year. Since she planned to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato as a sports psychology graduate student and assistant swim coach, she figured it couldn’t hurt to get acclimated to the ministry work. She contacted Minnesota state director Glenn Martin to pursue a potential internship.
Things fell into place and as an FCA volunteer, she headed to seven camps and served in various areas behind the scenes, as well as Huddle leader, speaker and coach. To invest in lives like others have invested into her was rewarding as she watched campers grow their faith in the span of a week.
“The nights we did get to share the gospel—whether it was their tenth or first time hearing it—and see their eyes open and the questions they had—it was a very powerful experience every time we could share the story of the cross,” she said.
Now in her new role coaching, McCormick admits grappling with the transition being on the outside of the pool, but she’s excited to have the opportunity to pour into an entirely new set of swimmers.
McCormick as a Huddle Leader at Sports Camp.
“It’s a whole other perspective being on deck, but it’s a cool blessing too, to be out of the water and nurture them, give them feedback and help them grow as athletes and people,” she said.
McCormick hopes to start a team Bible study in the second semester, much like she did at NIU.
Additionally, she works with Mankato West and Mankato East High Schools’ FCA and wants to bring more vibrancy to MSU’s Huddle. It’s a full plate, but Matthew 6:33 keeps her focused. “I know I’m here for a reason right now so I’m trying to enjoy it,” she said. “I am busy, so keeping Him first has been what I’m trying to focus on as my life is getting crazy.”
She’s taking advice from Martin to heart, remembering to keep in the Word and fill her own cup spiritually in order to pour into high school and college athletes.
“It’s been really awesome and I’ve been really blessed with the people God has lined me up with in my life,” she said. “I’m excited to see where He’ll continue to take me.”
Photos courtesy of Kayla McCormick