North Hills swimming duo making splash in and out of pool

By: Josh Rowntree
Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 11:01 AM

In the water, North Hills swimmers Conor Greer and Alex Alder have accomplished a lot for themselves this year. But it’s what the duo has done outside of the pool that will have a bigger impact.

Both seniors, Greer and Alder have each qualified for multiple events in the WPIAL swimming championships on Feb. 21-22 at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

The two, however, have also volunteered their time with the North Hills junior coaching program, instructing children at the club level under the guidance of their head coach, Nicole Loutsenhizer.

“I swam on the team when I was younger,” Alder said. “So when (Loutsenhizer) asked me to do it, I really wanted to. I wanted to make the same impact on them that others made on me at that age.

“It’s been really rewarding. We’re coaching some of the youngest kids and they make so many improvements from when they start out. And I really learn patience from coaching them.”

Loutsenhizer did not need to do much convincing of Alder. She sees every day a young student-athlete dedicated to the sport and to helping others.

“Alex is intrinsically motivated,” Loutsenhizer said. “She’s one who will set a goal and will do everything she can to work towards it.”

Alder moved to Pittsburgh in fifth grade from Utah and immediately hopped in the pool. She also grabbed a violin in that same year and currently plays in North Hills’ chamber orchestra.

“That I honestly take a little less seriously,” Alder said. “I do it for fun. It’s enjoyable.”

She is also a tremendous student, set to attend Pitt to pursue a career in pharmacy.

“My dad is a biologist,” she said. “Growing up and listening to him and all of the work that he does, it’s inspired me to pursue biology myself. I took AP biology and it talked a lot about medication. That really interested me.”

Before she gets to Pitt as a student, she’ll get a chance to win gold on the campus in the 400-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard freestyle relay events later this month.

Greer, meanwhile, will have an even greater workload in the water come Feb. 21. A strong athlete and student overall, he has qualified in eight events: the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke.

“My favorite is the 100-yard fly,” said Greer, who has been competitively swimming for 12 years. “It’s the most challenging, but whenever you swim fast, it’s the most rewarding.”

He also enjoys the 50-yard event, a high-speed sprint through the water.

“There’s a big rush when you’re on the blocks,” said Greer, who has added two events since last year’s WPIAL championships. “You have some nerves in you. But, as soon as you hear the beep go off and you’re just going as fast as you can, giving everything you’ve got for the 22 seconds you’re in there.”

“I’m pretty excited for the WPIALs, especially the relays,” Greer said. “We have a good chance at making it to states. We have a freshman in a relay (Nathan Liang) who has really been putting in the work and really improved. Hopefully we can pull it off.”

In addition to his athleticism, Greer has impressed Loutsenhizer with his passion.

“His attitude,” she said. “He’s an exuberant young man that has a unique ability to draw people in and have everyone feel included. He’s just a natural leader and makes everything more fun.”

And that energy led Greer — who also plays tennis and volleyball — to spend what little time he has left helping out as a junior coach alongside Alder.

“My motivation comes from the seniors I’ve seen qualify for a bunch of events before me,” he said. “I want to do what they did and see how many events I can qualify for. I’m on track to do better than last year, so that’s a good sign.”

He also understands that this is his last opportunity to compete in sanctioned events. He will enroll at Kent State this fall, looking to earn a degree in mechanical engineering.

“I really enjoy being a junior coach,” he said. “I get to see the kids. Every single time they come in, they’re really happy. My mom works at an elementary school in the district, so some of the swimmers go to her school and say, ‘Oh, are you Mrs. Greer’s son?’ They go and tell my mom the next day that they saw me at swimming.”

Both Alder and Greer have drawn inspiration from Olympians. Alder is partial to Katie Ledecky, arguably the greatest female Olympian to ever live. Greer enjoys watching Caeleb Dressel.

Both understand the connection of having athletic role models, even at the junior level. And that’s exactly what fuels them to continue to help developing the program while simultaneously pursuing their own goals.

“I find it to be really important, especially watching the Olympics this past summer,” Alder said. “I find it to be motivating how much they are able to accomplish.

“I looked up to the older kids when I was at a young age. I hope that they can look up to me now and that I can have an impact on them.”

Tags: North Hills