The Shippensburg University men’s and women’s swimming teams put together multiple strong performances at the 2017 Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College.

The men’s team opened the invitational on Friday by setting multiple records. 

Freshman Hunter Keck became the first Raider to break the 22-second mark in the 50-yard freestyle this season with his time of 21.66 seconds. His PR was good enough for 17th place, pacing the Raiders on the night.

Sophomore Nick Bloom placed fourth in the 200-individual medley (IM) and finished 11th with a new collegiate best time of 1:57:30.

Multiple swimmers had strong performances during Saturday’s finals session.

Jeff Beyer, Joe Deemer, Emmett Langan and Keck took fifth in the 200-yard free relay with a time of 1:28:43, while Beyer (fifth), Keck (15th) and Bloom (16th) all finished in the Top 20 of the 200-yard free. 

In the third session, Eric Zimmerman (15th), Deemer (16th) and Bloom (18th) also finished in the Top 20 for the 200-yard fly.

The men continued to set records on Sunday as they had 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifiers. Beyer finished fifth in the 1,650-yard free and senior Quinton Beck came in 13th.

Bloom captured sixth in the 100 IM and set a school record with his time of 53.80 seconds. Three other Raiders qualified for the PSAC meet in the 100 IM, including Keck, Langan, and Zimmerman.

Sophomore Callum Hamel made the 200-yard back cut and also placed 21st in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The women’s team also started strong on Friday. 

Senior Jeanette Welch paced 10 Raiders in the 50-yard freestyle and posted a PR of 24.86 seconds. Freshman Mari Reott became the fifth Raider to make the conference cut in the 200-yard IM, posting a time of 2:17.89. Reott, sophomore Gabriella Johnson, senior Rhyan Rodriguez and Welch swam their way into third overall with a 200-yard medley relay of 1:49.92. 

Gracee Tothero, Welch and junior Kadie Weaver all set new PRs in the 200-yard free.

In the third session, Tothero (ninth), Johnson (eleventh) and senior Sarah Strause (13th) finished in the Top 15 of the 100-yard breaststroke and Rodriguez finished 18th in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:02.16 qualifying for the conference meet.

The success continued Sunday as three Raiders finished in the Top 10 for the 100 IM. Welch claimed third place, posting a time of 1:02.89 which is seventh best in SU history. Rodriguez finished fifth at 1:03.49 while Strause got eighth at 1:03.78. 

Four other Raiders made the conference cut in Sunday’s races. Tothero made the 100-yard free cut, Reott and freshman Erika Rundquist made the 200-yard backstroke cut and Johnson made the 200-yard breaststroke cut.

Both teams return to action Friday, Jan. 12 when they head to Gannon University for a PSAC meet.

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