By: JC Greenwood, sports information student assistant
Gallery: (2-20-2025) 2024-25 Men's Swimming at PSACs (Day 3)
YORK, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's swimming team received two extraordinary efforts in relays Wednesday night, including a school record in one, to continue its strong swimming through the third day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships being held at the Graham Aquatic Center.
Before Wednesday's finals commenced, the quartet of junior
Kevin Noldy, sophomore
Robbie Ferlick, sophomore
Connor Ludwig, and senior
Nathan VanNatter completed a time trial to take a crack at the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The record in the 200 free relay had stood since 1990, when Cory Hillis, Dave Craven, Alon Naor, and Yosi Appel turned in a time of 1:23.10.
With the pool to themselves and clear water ahead, each Raider delivered what they needed to have a phenomenal swim. Noldy split 21.06 seconds off the blocks, followed by Ferlick at 20.21, Ludwig at 20.96 and VanNatter at 20.57 to comprise a time of 1:22.80 and break the 35-year old record and receive a loud ovation from the Raider contingent cheering poolside.
Noldy's opening leadoff of 21.06 seconds also improved from his previous lifetime best of 21.09 seconds set Monday and moves him into a tie for fourth in school history, joining Eddie LaNoue's performance in 2012.
The third day of finals officially began with the 200-yard medley relay, which saw another great performance turned in by SU. The team of sophomore
Mason Koeth, freshman
Kiran George, freshman
Josh Einolf, and Ferlick nearly delivered an All-PSAC finish in the race, taking fourth overall with their time of 1:32.69. Their performance nearly broke a 34-year old team record, being only 0.3 seconds behind the Raiders' squad of Brady Stauffer, Jason Gorbar, Steve Meissner and Alon Naor, who swam 1:32.39 back in 1991.
Shippensburg had two individual finalists on the night that turned in scoring performances. Graduate
JC Greenwood was the only Raider in the 500-yard freestyle and made his morning swim count by going 4:47.27 in the morning to qualify for the consolation 'B' final. Greenwood finished 16th overall to become a three-time PSAC place-winner in the event.
Freshman
Alex Kissinger used a strong surge in the second half of the 200-yard butterfly, qualifying for the 'B' final with his time of 1:55.86. Kissinger employed the same strategy at finals, dropping nearly a full second to go 1:55.02 – swimming a lifetime best and earning 12th overall. Kissinger's time at night would give him a spot in SU's all-time top ten, debuting at tenth in school history.
After three days of competition, Shippensburg maintained its position of sixth in the team standings, with 148 points.
The final day of competition is set to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday for prelims. Finals move up an hour for a start time of 5 p.m.
200 Medley Relay
4.
Mason Koeth,
Kiran George,
Josh Einolf,
Robbie Ferlick 1:32.69
500 Free
16.
JC Greenwood 4:55.05 (4:47.27p)
100 Back
17.
Mason Koeth 53.06
18.
Kevin Noldy 53.61
20.
Cooper Mercer 54.98
21.
Connor Ludwig 55.30 (lifetime best)
100 Breast
25.
Kiran George 59.18
26.
Nathan VanNatter 59.39
28.
Nate Wauls 59.88
29.
Josh Einolf 1:01.31
200 Fly
12.
Alex Kissinger 1:55.02 (1:55.86p) (lifetime best) (SU all-time No.10)
19.
David Johnson 1:59.45
20.
Carter Hawkes 2:00.19
21.
Zaidian Van Orden 2:01.12 (season best)
23.
Luke Roettger 2:03.25 (season best)
Time Trial – 200 Free Relay
Kevin Noldy,
Robbie Ferlick,
Connor Ludwig,
Nathan VanNatter 1:22.80 (school record)
