Kyra Schwerzler and Will Lukens break multiple Clearview records on their way out the door
Two Clearview Regional High School swimmers are just months away from joining the ranks of NCAA Division 1 athletics. Kyra Schwerzler and Will Lukens sat before friends, family, teammates and others last week in Clearview’s Toscano Theater during a ceremonial signing.
Schwerzler is committed to Rider University, where she will study chemistry.
“I chose Rider because of family legacy,” she said, adding a full-ride scholarship helped in her decision.
Lisa Marandola, head varsity swimming coach and school counselor, said, “I’ve been so proud to see her grow as an athlete and as a woman … at the end of last year, she decided to commit fully to her swimming career.”
During her senior year, Schwerzler broke Clearview’s 100 breaststroke time, recording the fourth-fastest time in the state. At the Meet of Champions, the relay team of Schwerzler, Julia Rothstein, Rachel Doring and Kelsey McNamara placed 12th in the 200 relay and 17th in the 400.
While she is excited to compete at the NCAA level, Schwerzler is also looking forward to the bigger, academic challenges that await her.
“I’m looking forward to having more freedom in school to choose what I want to study,” she said.
Lukens will attend Monmouth University on a partial scholarship.
Debating between majoring in education and business, Lukens is looking forward to “getting to know my new teammates and coaches,” he said, adding his ultimate goal is to compete in the NCAA championships both as part of a team and an individual.
During his senior year, Lukens swam the sixth-fastest time in the state in the 200 freestyle at the Meet of Champions, breaking the Clearview record. The relay team of Lukens, Owen McNamara, BJ Fuller and Dan Porter placed fourth in the 200 relay, had the seventh-fastest time in the 400 relay and established new school records in both.
“His name is on every single relay record here,” Marandola said looking out to the crowd of swimmers and adding Lukens is leaving behind big shoes to fill.
Mike Vicente, Clearview’s director of student activities and athletics, said, “Our two fine young adults are signing a contract … it’s a big deal.”
Vicente referenced the low percentage of high school athletes who reach the NCAA Division 1 level, noting that approximately 2 percent of high school athletes across the country are awarded scholarships for athletics each year.
According to a report on the NCAA website, across the United States, there are 138,364 male high school swimmers. Of those swimmers, 7 percent, or 9,691, reach the NCAA level and only 2.7 percent reach the Division 1 level.
For females, there are 170,797 high school swimmers. Reaching the NCAA level are 12,684, 7.4 percent, with 3.3 percent reaching Division 1 status.
“It’s a big accomplishment, and I am certainly proud of them,” he said.
