KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown men's swimming looks to build on last season's progress and continue climbing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) standings during the 2026-27 season.
The Golden Bears return an experienced group led by junior
Matheson Bair (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain), while junior
RJ Otten (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), senior
Colby Orndorf (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and two incoming freshmen add depth to the roster. Kutztown aims to improve its dual-meet record and continue making strides ahead of the PSAC Championships in February.
Bair leads the returning group after a standout performance at the 2026 PSAC Championships, earning first-place finishes in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:01.75) and 400-yard medley relay (3:28.95). He also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.87 seconds and the 100-yard butterfly in 51.87 seconds, showcasing his versatility across multiple events.
Otten returns for his junior season after continuing to improve over the past two years. He also contributed to Kutztown's first-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay at the 2026 PSAC Championships alongside Bair, and sophomores
Nevin Shaw (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and
Zach Schurr (Chattanooga, Tenn./McCallie School).
The sophomore class also figures to play an important role, with Shaw and
Andrew Pletz (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) looking to build on their freshman campaigns. Shaw recorded a personal-best time of 22.26 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2026 PSAC Championships, finishing second. He opened the current season at Shippensburg with a pair of first-place finishes in the 50-yard breaststroke (28.19) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.54).
Pletz also made an early impact at Shippensburg, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 5:14.35 and the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:46.31. The two victories provide a strong start to his sophomore campaign as he looks to continue developing in the distance events.
Head coach
Tim Flannery sees significant potential in the roster and believes the group can continue to grow.
"Nobody moved on, we've gained," Flannery said. "I see this team developing into a solid group that can keep the program moving forward."
The Golden Bears return to the pool Saturday against Montclair State at East Stroudsburg at 1 p.m., looking to build on their early-season performances while continuing last season's progress and adding new names to the program's all-time top 10 lists.
