LANCASTER, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's swimming team continued to deliver strong performances during the second day of competition at the 2024 F&M Invitational held at the Kunkel Aquatic Center.
 
The Raiders had great performances across the board, highlighted by having 13 individual swims return to compete at finals. Sophomore Mason Koeth led the Raiders, competing in the championship "A" final of both his individual events on the day. Koeth second overall in the 200-yard freestyle, swimming 1:41.67, and returned to the pool about 15 minutes later to compete in the 100-yard backstroke, taking eighth place with a time of 54.69 seconds. Koeth swam 1:40.92 and 51.65 seconds respectively during prelims.
 
Senior David Johnson also represented the Raiders in two individual finals. Johnson was the lone Raider in the 400-yard IM but made the most of the race by qualifying for the "A" final and dropping two seconds from his morning swim to touch the wall at night in 4:11.40 and place seventh. Johnson then swam in the "B" final of the 200-yard freestyle, taking 16th in a time of 1:48.44.
 
The 100-yard butterfly was a highlight for the Raiders, as it saw two consecutive all-time Top 10 performances during prelims. Sophomore Robbie Ferlick swam in heat six in prelims, delivering a time of 51.41 seconds to crack the Top 10 in school history, slotting in 10th.
 
One heat later, freshman Josh Einolf swam 51.31 seconds to move past Ferlick and take eighth position in school history. Einolf finished eighth at finals, and Ferlick took 11th place.
 
The 100-yard breaststroke saw three Raiders make finals, one in the "B" final and two in the "C" final. Freshman Kiran George swam 59.06 seconds in prelims to qualify for the "B" final and took 16th with a time of 1:00.89. Senior Nathan VanNatter and junior Nate Wauls swam the "C" final, with VanNatter taking 21st in 59.61 seconds and Wauls placing 22nd in 59.73 seconds.
 
Freshman Alex Kissinger also competed in the 100 fly, swimming the "C" final and taking 24th with a time of 51.97 seconds. Sophomore Connor Ludwig swam the "C" final in the 200 free, taking 23rd with a time of 1:47.94.
 
Junior Kevin Noldy and sophomore Cooper Mercer rounded out the Raider individuals in finals, both swimming the 100 back. Noldy competed in the "B" final, taking 10th overall with a time of 52.98 seconds. Mercer swam in the "C" final, taking 23rd in 55.52.
 
The team of Koeth, George, Einolf, and Ferlick opened night two by swimming the 200-yard medley relay in 1:34.06 to take seventh place.
 
The Raiders amassed 14 total Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) cuts on the day out of the 18 total preliminary swims. The team stays in sixth place in the team standings, totaling 449 points after two days of competition.
 
Sunday's prelims are set to begin at 10 a.m., with finals being contested one hour earlier at 5 p.m.
 
200 Medley Relay
7. Mason Koeth, Kiran George, Josh Einolf, Robbie Ferlick 1:34.06
15. Kevin Noldy, Nathan VanNatter, Alex Kissinger, Connor Ludwig 1:36.49
 
400 IM
7. David Johnson 4:11.40 (4:13.85p) (PSAC)
 
100 Fly
8. Josh Einolf 51.81 (51.31p) (PSAC)
11. Robbie Ferlick 51.49 (51.41p) (PSAC)
24. Alex Kissinger 51.97 (51.90p) (PSAC)
Zaidian Van Orden 52.29 (PSAC)
Luke Roettger 55.60
 
200 Free
2. Mason Koeth 1:41.67 (1:40.92p) (PSAC)
16. David Johnson 1:48.44 (1:46.17p) (PSAC)
23. Connor Ludwig 1:47.94 (1:47.57p) (PSAC)
JC Greenwood 1:50.02
 
100 Breast
16. Kiran George 1:00.89 (59.06p) (PSAC)
21. Nathan VanNatter 59.61 (59.28p) (PSAC)
22. Nate Wauls 59.73 (59.62p) (PSAC)
 
100 Back
8. Mason Koeth 54.69 (51.65p) (PSAC)
10. Kevin Noldy 52.98 (52.86p) (PSAC)
23. Cooper Mercer 55.52 (54.77p) (PSAC)
Connor Ludwig 56.19
Luke Roettger 58.79
 
800 Free Relay
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