National Highlight Reel: David Nolan sets 3 national swimming records, ties another

Hershey (Pa.) senior David Nolan staged probably the greatest performance in high school swimming history over the weekend during the Pennsylvania Class AAA state meet at Bucknell University.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder set an astonishing three individual and shared a fourth national high school record.

His records are:
- 100-yard backstroke, 45.49 seconds.
- 100-yard freestyle, 42.34 seconds leading off the 400-yard freestyle relay.
- 200-yard individual medley, 1:41.37 (breaking his own record of 1:43.43).
- 200-yard freestyle relay, 1:21.01 (other members were senior Ben Bauchwitz, sophomore Shota Nakano and senior Jeff Young).

"It feels good. I'm just trying to get ready for some (academic) tests now," Nolan said quite humbly following his herculean feat.

Greg Fastrich, who has coached Nolan since age 6, said, "I've read some blogs and am finding out more and more how special this was. Let's just say it will be hard to match again," he laughed. "The kid put in a lot of work, the coaches put in a lot of work and this weekend was our payoff."

The great Mark Spitz set several American (including adults) records during his prep career from 1964-68 at Santa Clara (Calif.), but even he never set four national records during a two-day high school meet. Fastrich admitted that he had his ace actually shooting for six national records.

"He has raw talent and a great feel for the water," Fastrich noted. "You toss a kid a bone and he's going out there and getting it. I have a good sense for what he can do. He had a great shot."

Nolan, who will graduate with seven state titles and 12 state records, said he has chosen Stanford University over such other powers as Texas, Florida and Virginia. He'll take a week or two off and then begin doing everything he can over the next year to make the USA team for the 2012 London Olympics.

Hershey's boys and girls both won the state team championship and the girls had their own highlights.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team set a national public school record of 3:22.85 behind the efforts of Sam Surfus, Katelyn Miller, Yurie Nakano and Meaghan Raab. Only a freshman, Raab broke state records in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events and was named most outstanding female performer in Class AAA.

* Meanwhile, Eden Prairie (Minn.) junior Rachel Bootsma was making waves during the National Club Swimming Association Junior Nationals in Orlando, Fla. Bootsma emerged from the week-long meet with an amazing six gold medals – including a sizzling 50.76 in to win the women's 100 backstroke in a time that would have won this year's NCAA championship. It also is No. 3 all-time. Last fall, Bootsma set a national record in the Minnesota state meet with a clocking of 51.53 in the 100 backstroke.

BOYS BASKETBALL: MONTELLI WINS STATE AT 78
Vito Montelli is back on top at age 78, having coached St. Joseph (Trumbull, Conn.) to the Class LL state title with a 79-53 rout of Fairfield Prep (Conn.). Montelli has won a state-record 853 games in 49 years, but his 10th state title was his first since 2001.

* Six-foot senior Veontae Lewis drilled an 18-foot jump shot at the buzzer to give Christian County (Hopkinsville, Ky.) a 65-63 double-overtime victory against Rowan County (Morehead, Ky.) and the state title before a crowd of 14,644 at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Tourney MVP Anthony Hickey, a 5-11 guard, had 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the champs. Rowan County, which had won its last 15 games, was paced by 6-4 junior Adam Wing with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Wing had a streak of 12 consecutive 3-point baskets during the semifinals and finals.

* Redwood Valley (Redwood Falls, Minn.) outlasted Windom (Minn.), 60-58, in four overtimes during the Class 2A Section 3 championship game.

* Northview (Duluth, Ga.) junior Kyle Meyer has made a commitment to the University of Iowa, according to the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. The 6-10 Meyer averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds this year.

* DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) defeated Benedictine (Richmond, Va.), 53-43, to win the 51st annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational at Frostburg State University for a record 20th time.

* Six-foot-four Kedren Johnson of Marshall County (Lewisburg, Tenn.) poured in 43 points to spark the East to a 131-121 victory over the West during the Tennessee All-Star game in Murfreesboro.

* Late in the season, West Burlington (Iowa) launched a national-record 100 3-point shots — making only eight — during a lopsided 109-25 loss to Danville (Iowa). The record had been 94 by Juniata Valley (Alexandria, Pa.) in 1997.

* Assistant T.J. Lux has been named head boys basketball coach at Merrillville (Ind.). A former Merrillville player, Lux succeeds Jim East, who retired after 43 years – 31 at Merrillville – as a head coach.

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