Pittsford Swim Teams Earn NISCA Rankings

Boys and Girls Teams Capture National Recognition

The Pittsford Panthers added another headline to their growing list of achievements. Both the boys and girls varsity swim teams earned spots on the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) dual meet team rankings for the 2025‑26 academic year. The boys squad claimed second place among public schools with enrollments ranging from 1,401 to 1,900 students, while the girls finished fourth in the same category. Coach Rick Schmitt, long‑time head of the boys program, assumed responsibility for the girls team last fall after Marty Keating stepped down.

Relay Teams Earn All‑American Honors

Pittsford’s boys posted three All‑American relay performances, all ranked within the top‑100 national times. The 200‑yard freestyle relay, anchored by Ben Hinds, Xavier Joseph, Ian Miller and Luke McCormack, clocked 1:22.94 to claim 24th place. The 200‑yard medley relay finished 26th at 1:30.88, while the 400‑yard freestyle relay came in 44th at 3:03.92. Ian Miller also registered a 77th‑place finish in the 100‑yard butterfly with a time of 48.78.

The girls added two relay entries to the NISCA list. Lexi Lombard, Lily Orlando, Molly Bennett and Sarah Kunze combined for a 200‑yard freestyle time of 1:35.11, earning 51st overall. Their 400‑yard freestyle quartet posted a 3:28.69, landing at 78th position. These marks place the Panthers among the elite New York programs recognized by NISCA.

Other Noteworthy Highlights

Fairport’s girls 200‑yard freestyle relay, featuring Charlotte Larzelere, Hannah Rusho, Riley Hauber and Kaleigh Lawrence, recorded a 1:35.62, ranking 73rd nationally. Churchville‑Chili senior Kyler Thomas received diving honors for the season. Only four New York teams made the dual meet rankings, underscoring the rarity of such national exposure for local squads.

The recognition comes as Pittsford continues to build on its reputation for strong coaching and competitive depth. With Rick Schmitt leading both boys and girls, the program appears poised to add more high‑level performances in the upcoming seasons. The inclusion of multiple relay teams and individual swimmers signals a solid pipeline of talent moving through the Section V swimming landscape.