Noll completes sweep of Ringgold record board
This story originally ran in Monday’s e-edition. We’re running it again in print for those who don’t have access.
Many members of the Noll family have swam for Ringgold, but Thursday night, it was all about senior Natalie Noll.
In the Rams’ home meet with Laurel Highlands, Noll recorded a time of 1:58.72 in the 200-yard freestyle to break a 15-year school record and make it her own.
The record board at the Ringgold High School Natatorium now shows that Noll owns every program record in individual events, along with two more records as a member of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
“It was surreal for me,” Noll said about breaking the final individual record not in her name. “I honestly thought it was funny looking up at the board and only seeing my name. But I also felt like, ‘Wow.’” In all, Noll has the best marks in the 200-yard freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 100 backstroke. The aforementioned records as part of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays add to her fantastic resume for the Rams.
Ringgold swimming and diving coach Liz Sprowls wasn’t surprised that Noll was able to accomplish the incredible feat given her determination and work ethic.
“She’s not a quitter,” Sprowls said. “Whatever the challenge is, she’s not someone that will give up. She’ll keep working every day until she can do what it is that she wants to do. She holds herself accountable and does everything I and everyone else asks of her. She doesn’t argue or anything like that; she loves to put the hard work in which sets her apart.”
Natalie comes from a long line of swimmers, including her sisters Sarah and Rebecca and brother Andy, who have motivated her to become the best swimmer and athlete that she can be.
Ringgold’s queen of the swim team said her family was right there with her supporting her Thursday night, just like they always are.
“Everyone was proud of me, which felt really great,” Noll said. “I feel like my parents try to keep me humble, so they were like, ‘It was good, but don’t go bragging about it too much.’ But they’re all proud of me, which feels great.”
In her senior campaign, which has been less than two months, Noll has already broken her own school records seven times. She is a fourtime WPIAL qualifier and projects to be a four-time PIAA qualifier when those qualifications happen later in the year.
Of course, these types of feats come from relentless pursuit and work, but Noll made sure to acknowledge her teammates that have helped her along the way as well.
Noll is a two-year captain of the Rams and has contributed in a variety of ways.
“She leads by example,” Sprowls said. “She doesn’t make excuses for herself and she doesn’t let her teammates make excuses either. She’s been a great captain, and she has a great relationship with both sides of the team. She primarily trains with the boys because they’re at her speed level, and she’s essentially done that for all four years of high school, but she’s a key leader for the girls as well. She’s super close with all of them and motivates them really well.”
Noll is determined to finish her high-school career out strong before looking to swim collegiately. For now, her eyes are set on her current lane in WPIALs and possibly PIAAs.
“I am so in awe of Pennsylvania swimming, because there’s so many fast girls and boys, but I want to close my career out strong,” Noll said. “There’s so much to keep learning from, so I want to keep doing that along the way.”
“I honestly thought it was funny looking up at the board and only seeing my name. But I also felt like, ‘Wow.’”
NATALIE NOLL
