Amazing Alumnus:

Kurt Prange ’86, College of Arts and Sciences

Current life role: Business Development, Bentley World-Packaging Ltd., Milwaukee

Kurt Prange has conquered the “Mount Everest” for swimmers: the English Channel. His qualifications for this remarkable feat: two years on the VU swim team, three high school swim team buddies and the optimism to take on the challenge.

Though it has been nearly two years since the adventure, Prange has vivid memories of the trip. "It was an almost out-of-body experience," he says. “There we were, four 41- and 42-year-olds, swimming in this huge body of water with weather conditions so bad we couldn’t even see."

Channel swim – take one

The trip started with a call from a high school friend who suggested their old relay team reunite to swim the Channel. Intrigued, he agreed to be part of the four-man team. Prange graduated from Valpo with degrees in both political science and history, and taught and coached before eventually opening his own packaging company. Though he led an active lifestyle, he wasn’t prepared for the rigors of crossing the English Channel. “I began training at the ‘Y’ and doing open-water swims on Okauchee Lake where I live,” says Prange.

The quartet began the 26-mile swim in Dover, England, at a former World War II submarine repair area. Before taking the plunge, each swimmer had to pass a thorough physical exam and register with the Channel Swimming Association. That, however, was the easy part. Their first attempt at crossing was called off after only several hours. But Prange says they had traveled too far to “throw in the towel” that easily, so they decided to try again the next day.

Channel swim – take two

“That second day was just awful!” Prange says. “We experienced continual three- to six- foot waves, dodged container ships, jellyfish, and curious seals, and muddled through dense fog. In fact, the French Coast Guard requested that we abort.”

But the team forged ahead, finally reaching the French shoreline 13 hours and 15 minutes after they had begun. “I calculated that under ideal conditions we could have finished in under 10 hours,” Prange says. “I did my final leg in the complete darkness with nothing but a flash light pointing to where I had to swim.” 

Hauling himself up the ladder and safely onto their boat, Prange says he was startled to see a fishing dragnet being reeled in just 10 feet behind the spot he had been swimming. “I got shivers hearing that net slap against the boat. But it was a great life experience.  Maybe when I’m 50 I’ll try again!”