Hall of Fame
Steve Meissner is one of the fastest and most accomplished swimmers in the history of Shippensburg University Men’s Swimming, having graduated as a NCAA Division II National Champion and as the first men’s swimmer in NCAA Division II history to break 50 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly.
Meissner won a national title and set an NCAA Division II national record in the 100-yard butterfly as a senior at the 1991 NCAA Division II National Swimming Championships, swimming 49.15 seconds. The historic performance remains the school record to this day and is more than a second faster than any other swimmer in school history.
He served as a co-captain for the SU men’s swimming team that placed fourth at the 1991 NCAA Division II National Championships – the best national place finish in school history. Meissner swam the butterfly leg of the 400-yard medley relay team that placed third at the NCAA National Championships. He, alongside teammates Brady Stauffer, Jason Gorbar and Rich Adams, posted a time of 3:22.75 that also remains a school record to this day.
Overall at nationals, Meissner was a two-time All-American in the 100-yard butterfly, having finished as the national runner-up in 1990.
At the 1991 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Swimming Championships, Meissner won the PSAC title in the 100-yard butterfly and swam on three first-place relays, winning conference titles with the 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley and 400-yard medley relays. It marked Shippensburg’s second consecutive PSAC team championship.
Meissner was among the leaders on a team that posted a 17-3 dual-meet record during the 1990-91 season, with Shippensburg’s only losses coming to Division I foes Villanova, Syracuse and Penn State.
As a junior in 1989-90, Meissner won PSAC titles in the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard freestyle, helping play an integral role on an SU team that won the PSAC Championship and snapped Clarion’s 19-year reign at the top of the conference. The Raiders had finished as the runner-up to the Golden Eagles the previous 12 seasons.
Meissner began his streak of three PSAC Championships in the 100-yard butterfly as a sophomore. He also contributed to the team’s victory in the 400-yard medley relay. Overall, Meissner won four PSAC individual titles in his career.
In addition to his butterfly school record, Meissner still owns a part of three Shippensburg University relay records: the 200-yard medley relay (1:32.39), the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:03.80) and the aforementioned 400-yard medley relay.
Meissner competed under longtime SU swim coach and Hall of Famer Donnie Miller during a stretch where SU had at least one individual National Championship in eight of nine seasons.
After graduating Shippensburg with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and business engineering, Meissner has worked in the technology field. Meissner currently works at Pfizer, where he has contributed to the delivery of healthcare products including the Covid vaccine.
Meissner lives in Phoenixville with his wife Geny and their dog, Coal. The couple enjoys international travel, hiking, the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
