SHIPPENSBURG — Two years after leaving collegiate swimming, Stephanie O’Toole decided to get back in the game.

Shippensburg University didn’t mind the wait.

All the 2013 Butler graduate did was break five individual school records and help break a school relay record during the Patriot Invitational last month at George Mason University — O’Toole’s first tournament as a member of the Red Raiders.

“This is my 19th year here and we’ve never had anybody like her,” Shippensburg swim coach Tim Verge said. “She is a complete difference-maker in our program.

“We’ve had conference champions, NCAA all-Americans, but never anyone with the speed and versatility that Stephanie brings. We’re very fortunate she picked us.”

O’Toole actually picked the University of Toledo first. She attended there the year she graduated from Butler, but left after just one semester.

“I discovered it wasn’t for me,” O’Toole said.

Upon returning home, O’Toole rejoined high school coach Dave Bocci and swam for his local branch of the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins for two years.

“I did well there, but club swimming is more individual based,” O’Toole said. “I wanted a team atmosphere. I missed that.

“I decided to go back to college. When I looked around and visited Shippensburg, I loved the culture there. Everybody works together to succeed. That type of atmosphere is very uplifting.”

Verge knew he was getting a high-quality swimmer. He didn’t realize that quality would surface so quickly.

O’Toole owns Red Raider records in the 100-yard freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley.

She swam a leg of the school record-setting 400 medley relay as well.

O’Toole ranks among the top five in all of NCAA division II this season with times of 4 minutes, 24.25 seconds in the 400 IM (second) and 2:01.61 in the 200 IM (third). She ranks ninth nationally with a 51.21 in the 100 freestyle.

“Stephanie has obviously had great coaching through the years. Her technique is fantastic,” Verge said.

“We’ve done very little tweaking with her. There’s no need.”

O’Toole is changing her major from psychology to human resource management. Verge said her decision to come to Shippensburg was “degree driven.”

Now she has her sights set on a whole lot more. O’Toole ranks atop the PSAC in eight events: 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 100 butterfly, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 individual medley and 400 IM.

The Red Raiders also lead the conference in the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay — two relays O’Toole swims with.

“It’s a fun problem to have right now, figuring out the right places to use her,” Verge said. “Individuals, relays, she’s good in so many areas.”

O’Toole’s immediate goal is to stay healthy, make the NCAA cut for nationals and help the team “place as high at the conference championships as we can.”

She doesn’t just want herself to win.

“I want us all to win,” she said.

Verge said the “sky is the limit” in terms of O’Toole’s potential at Shippensburg. She has two years of eligibility remaining after this season.

“Winning an NCAA title down the road is certainly within the realm of her reach,” the coach said.

O’Toole likes the sound of that.

“I’d love to win an NCAA championship before I’m done, no doubt about that,” she said.