Shane Ryan Breaks Two Major District Records

The change came this same time last year — at the PIAA District One championship. It’s here that began to shine. It’s here that the junior swimmer claimed national recognition. So it was here again last weekend that Ryan proved he’s among the best in the nation.

But this time came with amazing spectacular numbers. No one was even close to the 6-foot-6, 180-pound wunderkind. Without much of a push from anyone else, Ryan won the 200-yard freestyle in a district  — and school-record time of 1:39.40, then the next day he broke his own district record — and pool record — by taking his event, the 100-yard backstroke, in 48.63 seconds. The pool record snapped all previous times swam in the 100 backstroke, which includes college swimmers.

That’s how good Shane Ryan is.

“Going into this year, I had a lot more experience than I had last year,” Ryan said. “I kind of knew that I had to race against myself, but I got my best times and I was happy, but I was a little disappointed, too. I had an idea I’d come in first, based in the time standards. I came in trying to do my best and get that district record, but I wanted to break the 48 in the 100 back. Last year was my first year swimming the 200 free, and I still don’t how to swim it.

“It’s a longer race that you learn you have to pace yourself. The first 50 yards you have pace yourself, then get a little stronger and a little stronger with each lap—and then go all out in the last lap. The 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke are held on different days, so one race doesn’t affect the other.”

What’s ahead now comes the real challenge — the PIAA state championships March 18-19 at Bucknell University. Ryan, the defending PIAA Class AAA state champion and state record holder in the 100 backstroke, will be competing against Hershey High School’s David Nolan, bound for Stanford on a full swimming scholarship and considered the best high school swimmer in the nation.

“Shane’s so much better than everyone locally that he suffers,” Fords’ swimming coach Matt Stewart said. “What makes me think that Shane will do well is last year at districts, Shane didn’t have what I would say was his best hand. He went to districts coming off mono and he was not happy at all with what he did in the 100 (butter)fly. You could see the fire brewing in Shane the next day and that came out in the 100 back. He won the state championship and set the state record, which put Shane on the map. But that started at last year’s districts, and this year’s districts were much better for Shane.”

Nolan competed at the Class AA level last year easily swimming by everyone he faced. This year, he has to deal with Ryan, as does Shane with Nolan. They faced each other just once, at the Senior Meet after last year’s states. Nolan just edged out Ryan by a second in the 100 backstroke. This year’s 100 backstroke in Pennsylvania could be the best not only in the state, but the best in the country.

“Nolan is the best in the country, there are no doubts about that; anything he swims is like a ridiculous time,” said Ryan, who’s already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials. “He’ll get a fight from me. I want the challenge. I want to push him like he’s going to push me. The 100 backstroke is where he’s going to get his best competition and that’s my best event—and basically anything he swims is his best event. He’s a future Olympian. It will be one of the fastest races in the country. It’s going to be a very tough race for all of us.”