SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University head men's and women's swimming coach Tim Verge has confirmed the recruitment of eight additional student-athletes who have each agreed to attend the university and will suit up for the Raider program in the fall.
 
"This is a group that is going to be a very valuable addition to the Shippensburg University community in many ways," Verge said. "I think there is a lot of talent with these individuals, and added to the outstanding group of returners we have, I can't wait to get going. I want to thank each of them for trusting us to guide their future during these very important years."
 
These athletes accompany the six early signings (five women, one man) announced in January, making it 14 new swimmers set to enter the Raider program in 2023-24.
 
Verge noted that each of the team's additions has personal-best times that are faster than the PSAC Championships qualifying standards.
 
"This has been a very exciting recruiting year for SHIP Swimming," Verge said. "I was thrilled with the group of student-athletes we had commit in the fall, and to have another round with the level of folks we did this spring is just tremendous."
 
Each recruit has signed either a national letter of intent (NLIs) or an institutional letter expressing their desire to swim at Shippensburg.
 
Jazz Barry
Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase (LSU/Montgomery)
 
2021-22 (Freshman): Attended Montgomery College.
 
2020-21 (Freshman): Attended LSU.
 
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School: Totaled three varsity letters for the Barons…competed at the club level with DC Wave under head coach Robert Green…received a pair of honorable mention classifications from The Washington Post…set a school record in the 100-yard breaststroke.  
 
About Barry: Full name is Jasmine Barry…is the daughter of Erika Livingston.
 
Coach Verge on Barry: "I am thrilled with Jasmine's decision to join us. She has some tremendous talent and a high ceiling for success. Her career best times put her in position to challenge for a lot of points at the conference championships. I had some connection to her from Dave Geyer, one of our alums, who just raved about her. When I met her face-to-face, I was really taken by her vibrant personality and confidence. She is going to be a tremendous asset to our program."
 
Mackenzie Beerman
Freshman
Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin
 
Governor Mifflin High School: Competed at the varsity level for the Mustangs under head coach Shana Matz…achieved career-best marks of 57.77 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle, 2:02.50 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:29.64 in the 500-yard freestyle…also lettered in water polo.
 
About Beerman: Full name is Mackenzie Leah Beerman…is the daughter of Kristopher and Tara Beerman…has a brother, Dylan.
 
Coach Verge on Beerman: "Mackenzie is the latest in a long line of successful Governor Mifflin swimmers to join us. She has untapped potential that I am excited to see come out with our program. I think she is another that will benefit a lot from our strength program. It will be fun to see her swim up to the 1000 and 1650. I think she really loves all the aspects of the SHIP community and will be a wonderful addition to it."
 
Brea Fennick
Freshman
Oil City, Pa./Oil City
 
Oil City Senior High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Oilers under coaches Eric Smith and Stacia Fennick…qualified for the district meet in four individual events and for the state meet in two relays as a senior…a straight-A student…came in second in her class…active in multiple clubs…also lettered in varsity competitive and varsity football cheerleading.
 
About Fennick: Full name is Brea Fennick…is the daughter of Ryan and Stacia Fennick…has a sibling, Carson…mother Stacia contributed to several district championships in high school and swam for Coach Verge at Edinboro…father Ryan was a state champion swimmer for Franklin High School and swam for Coach Verge at Ashland.
 
Coach Verge on Fennick: "Brea is another swimmer with whom I have a personal connection, as I coached her parents early in my career. It came together a little later in the process for Brea, but I am so excited she chose SHIP. I've known her high school coach for a long time too, and he sees so much potential. Strength training again will be something to really help her with. Brea is Top 3 in her graduating class and will help us continue our academic excellence as well."
 
Makennah Fickett
Sophomore
Hershey, Pa./Hershey (Delaware)
 
CAA Individual Competition:
1-Time CAA Place-Winner
2023 – 100 Back (15th)
 
2022-23 (Freshman): Qualified for three events at the 2023 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships as a swimmer at Delaware…placed 15th in the 'B' final of the 100-yard backstroke with a season-best time of 56.20 seconds…represented the Blue Hens in the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke at the CAA Championships, delivering a personal best in the former and a season best in the latter.
 
Hershey High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Trojans under Greg Fastrick…competed at the club level for Keystone Aquatic Club and Hershey Aquatic Club under Fastrick…was a four-year PIAA Championships and District III Championships qualifier and Mid-Penn Conference Championships qualifier…finished as a state and district medalist…named the PennLive Swimmer of the Year as a sophomore…nominated for the John Travers Award.
 
About Fickett: Full name is Makennah J. Fickett…is the daughter of Jason and Kelly Fickett…has four siblings; Emma, Aiden, Delaney and Caitlyn Weedan.
 
Coach Verge on Fickett: "Getting Makennah at SHIP will be a phenomenal boost for our program and university. She is a former Travers Award nominee from Hershey High School which speaks to her character and commitment. One of the things that she liked about our program was the space it gives her to do volunteer work, which is important to her. I think she could come in and immediately be able to challenge for conference titles. As well, her current best times in the backstroke events are under our school records. We are so excited she has trusted SHIP with her future."
 
Men's Signings:
 
Mason Koeth
Freshman
Wiesbaden, Germany/Wiesbaden
 
Wiesbaden High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Warriors under head coach Emily Coleman…competed at the club level for Schwimm-Club Wiesbaden (SCW) 1911 under Herr Oliver Grossman…is a 10-time European Forces Swim League (EFSL) record holder…classified a Deutsche Kurzbahn-Meisterschaften Schwimmen (DKM) 18U Silver Medal-winner…swam at German Junior Nationals and SC Nationals in Berlin at age 15…was an EFSL Pentathlete and High Point winner…was a member of the National Honor Society…served as a student ambassador.
 
About Koeth: Full name is Mason Wyatt Koeth.
 
Coach Verge on Koeth: "We are thrilled to have Mason joining us at SHIP. His father is stationed overseas and we sort of got it all put together late. He is an outstanding talent and will bring so much to our program. He could challenge for conference titles at some point. We are proud too that our outstanding ROTC program was a huge selling point for him as he wants to continue in his father's footprint and serve."
 
Connor Ludwig
Freshman
Ephrata, Pa./Conestoga Valley
 
Conestoga Valley High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Buckskins under coaches Barb Rassch and Mark Daum…competed at the club level for Five Star Swim Club under Daum…finished as a four-time Lancaster-Lebanon League (LL) Championships qualifier…also played baseball as a freshman.
 
About Ludwig: Full name is Connor Steven Ludwig…is the son of Steve Ludwig…father Steve '96, and mother Coley '95, are SU graduates.
 
Coach Verge on Ludwig: "I am so excited Connor is coming to SHIP and continuing his family legacy. His dad swam for us back in the early 1990s and we've known each other a long time. The past year, Connor's improvement trajectory was nothing short of phenomenal. He has made some major time drops and I am looking forward to SHIP being a part of that continued development."
 
Cooper Mercer
Freshman
Gainesville, Va./Battlefield
 
Battlefield High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Bobcats under coaches Jay Thorpe and Evan Brandt…competed at the club level with Occoquan Swimming for coaches Aaron Dean and Jorge Bohabot…finished as a 10-time Virginia State Championships qualifier…qualified for PVS Sectional, Super Sectionals and Zones…recognized as a four-time PVS Scholar-Athlete…cited as an Academic All-American…was a member of the honor roll…graduated with a 4.4 GPA as an honor-roll student…ranked among the Top 10 percent of his graduating class.
 
About Mercer: Full name is Cooper Daniel Mercer…is the son of Todd and Jennifer Mercer…has a sister, Maddie.
 
Coach Verge on Mercer: "Cooper seemed to have a solid connection with SHIP the very first time he came to campus. He visited us a few times. His versatility and range are tremendous, and I look forward to the challenge of figuring out the very best events for him, as he can do a lot. His club coach is an old swimmer of mine from Northern Arizona University and he speaks very highly of Cooper's character and what he will bring to a team."
 
Luke Roettger
Freshman
Landisville, Pa./Hempfield
 
Hempfield High School: Totaled multiple varsity letters for the Black Knights under head coach Casey Lear…competed at the club level with Lancaster Lightning-Lancaster Family YMCA under coach Gwyn Atkinson…finished as a four-time Lancaster-Lebanon (LL) League all-conference honoree…qualified for the PIAA District Championships…was a two-time PA YMCA District competitor and one-time PA YMCA State competitor…specialized in the butterfly and backstroke…received a YMCA Coaches Award…selected as the 2023 Hummel Scholarship award winner…was a member of the honor roll…also played tennis.
 
About Roettger: Full name is Luke Aaron Roettger…is the son of Philip and Erica Roettger…is the oldest of five siblings: Amelia, Sam, Ben and Ryan.
 
Coach Verge on Roettger: "Luke is a teammate of fellow recruits Caroline Schweigert and Carol Fabian at Hempfield. He came into focus later in the process after championships, and we couldn't be happier. I think the consistency of our strength program will really help him continue his development. We are excited that he is going to be part of our team and I can't wait to see him progress."