Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

In the Spotlight: Cara Zortman ’21

Cara Zortman ’21 could always be found in the water while a student at Lycoming. The two-time captain of the Warrior swim team earned Third Team All-MAC honors in 2020 after posting a school-record 24.63 performance in the 50-yard freestyle, which is now the second-fastest time in program history. Today, Cara finds herself coaching and making a splash out of the water as a high school biology teacher in Williamsport.

You were a biology major with a secondary education certification. What are you up to these days2?

Upon graduating from Lycoming, I joined the faculty at the Williamsport Area High School as a biology teacher. I have enjoyed working with the ninth grade groups each year to not only teach the subject I love, but to help them find their place in their new home for the next four years. I have been able to learn as much from them as I am sure they have from me. At the school, I have also tutored, joined the NME core team, attended many school events, and have attempted multiple TikTok dance competitions at pep rallies.

As of May 17, 2025, I also completed my M.Ed. in Diversity and Student Resilience at York College of Pennsylvania.

You were a member of the Warrior Swim Team. Are you still involved with collegiate swimming?

This is my fifth season serving as an assistant swim coach for the Lycoming Warriors. I help with team practices and also run the team's social media accounts. Swimming played a huge role in my college experience, and I’m grateful to be able to continue engaging with my alma mater in a coaching capacity, as swimming has been my passion my whole life (well, since I was five).

Can you speak a little about your coaching at camps for the Naval Academy during the summers?

I started coaching the United States Naval Academy swim camps back in 2019, and this was my sixth year as a coach. I get to coach alongside coaches of many levels; however, most are college coaches at the D1, D2, and D3 schools.

I am starting to become one of the most veteran coaches of the camp and have started to help with many behind-the-scenes operations that ensure the week runs smoothly. This year, and in the past, I have coached alongside Olympic medalists and many elite college athletes. I learn so much from my fellow coaches, but also the swimmers themselves, as they come from locations all around the country and from many different backgrounds. I’m able to take this information that I learned back to the Lycoming team.

You took your high school biology students to the Galápagos Islands this summer. What an incredible opportunity for you and for them! Tell us more.

For 12 days, I got to travel to Quito, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands with some of my high school students, fellow educators, and friends. This was a life-changing trip for me, especially having a degree in biology. There was so much wildlife everywhere we looked, and the landscapes were breathtaking. From a teacher perspective, it was really cool to see my students grow more comfortable with trying new things as the trip progressed. I am so happy I got to witness their worldview expanding and be a part of this opportunity. I look forward to continuing both the Naval swim camps and student travels in the years to come.

What advice would you give your students when thinking about their post-high school plans?

I always tell my students to go somewhere that feels like home. I always thought I wanted to go to a large university, until I realized that was not the environment I would thrive in. I personally loved getting to know my professors and athletic/sorority (AXiD) community at Lycoming and love that I can carry those relationships forward with me.

I also always tell my students to be open-minded. It is okay to not know what you want to do with your life. Try new things and take yourself out of your comfort zone. I believe the greatest things in life are found when you push yourself and do things that fill up your cup.

In the Spotlight recognizes members of our alumni community who are doing great things that have been influenced by their time at Lycoming College. Alumni Spotlight submissions are used at the discretion of the College and may be included in the monthly eNews as space and time permit. To participate, submit an Alumni Spotlight questionnaire.