[1] He graduated from Lower Cape May Regional High School, as a three-time All-Cape-Atlantic League swimmer, and swam for the Wildwood Crest Dolphins club swimming program.

Pilczuk was a walk-on at Miami-Dade Community College, where he earned a partial scholarship his second year.

In the process, he defeated Russia's Alexander Popov in what USA Today called the "Upset of the Decade."

He was also a five-time United States National Champion in the 50m freestyle, was a member of the Auburn University 4x50-meter medley relay World Record (1:36.69 - M.Andrews 24.77, G.Schmid 26.82, D Hutchinson 23.61, B Pilczuk 21.49) team in 1996.

Pilczuk also set the American Record in the 50m freestyle (scm) at 21.56, in San Diego, CA, in 1999 on the lead off of a relay.