Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

As Jackie Hynson, McKelvy won a national championship in the 200-yard butterfly in 2012 and earned 11 All-America honors in five different events during her distinguished IUP career.

The highlight was her first-place finish in the 200 fly at the NCAA Division II meet in in Mansfield, Texas, as a senior. McKelvy set school and Division II records with a time of 1:58:84. That still stands as the IUP record.

McKelvy placed in the top six seven other times at nationals under coach Chris Villa. She finished third in the 200 fly and 200 backstroke as a sophomore; third in the 200 fly and 200 back as a junior; fifth in the 200 individual medley as a senior; and sixth in the 400 IM as a junior and the 100 fly as a senior.

McKelvy set six school records during her career and still holds two—the 200 fly and the 200 back (1:59.35). She also holds PSAC meet records in both events. McKelvy won six PSAC titles all told in butterfly, backstroke and IM events.

She was named the PSAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year in 2011 and the IUP Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012. McKelvy was a two-time winner of the PSAC Top Ten Award, given for combined athletic and academic excellence. As dominant as she was in the pool, McKelvy was even better in the classroom, graduating in 2012 with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average as a speech-language pathology major. She earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from IUP in 2014.

McKelvy works as a senior speech-language pathologist with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. She also mentors Pittsburgh-area undergraduate and graduate students interested in the head/neck cancer field and lectures at local universities to increase awareness for best practices in dysphagia and lymphedema therapy.

McKevy resides in Pittsburgh with her husband Caleb, a 2006 IUP grad, and their children: Emmylou, 8; Samson, 6; and Molly, 2.
 

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Personal Reflection: 

I am very grateful for this honor, and for the people who shaped my life in and beyond the pool.

My parents, Alan and Vicky Hynson, supported me all along the way as a human, student and swimmer. Being a swim parent is a daunting commitment, but they were undeterred by two-a-day practice commitments, “vacation” locations decided by championship meets and endless tech suits. They encouraged me to press forward when I fell short of my goals, as well as celebrate successes. Now, they are swim grandparents, and anything I do well as a parent I owe to them.

Coach Chris Villa has done so much for IUP swimming, which continues to thrive under his leadership now. He joined the program three years before I came to IUP, but he already had the reputation of being a skilled, passionate coach who was building something great. I transferred to IUP to swim for him, and never regretted it. He brought the energy we needed at 6 a.m., every single day. He helped me get stronger and faster, but he also helped me learn to better manage and direct my mental intensity. I owe my athletic success, and also vital personal growth, to Chris Villa, as well as assistant coaches Kim Hanley and Marlee Morden.

I’ve had many wonderful teammates, but would like to mention a few especially. Katie Lehman, Ally Long and Kelsey Smith were the best roommates and friends. We made memories and forged bonds to last a lifetime in the pool and the Brick House on Oakland Avenue. Allyson Mitidieri dominated the pool and IUP record board in her own right, but was also an amazing training partner and friend. I am thankful to have ended my swimming career sharing the NCAA championship meet with her.

Josh Huger and I grew up together, with our friendship being instrumental in my transfer to IUP. He then carried his love of swimming into an amazing coaching career, now working with the fastest swimmers in the world. For them and all the teammates with whom I shared the frigid IUP pool, I am so very grateful. 

My last reflection of gratitude is for the Noronha family of Indiana, Pa. I tore a muscle in my back two months before the NCAA championships my senior year, and I felt like it was going to be the end of everything I worked towards. It wasn’t, but it led me to meet Sylvia Noronha, who helped heal my strength and flexibility. She became my friend, later invited me to stay with her family during grad school, and even introduced me to my husband of 10 years, Caleb, during IUP Athletics’ Nell Jack Golf Classic. Sylvia’s husband, head/neck surgeon Dr. Bosco Noronha, also sparked my interest in working with people fighting head/neck cancer, leading to new goals for the next chapter of my life. I now lead the top head/neck cancer therapy program in Pittsburgh, where I have the privilege of making a palpable difference every day for people experiencing something terrible.

I wouldn’t have my family, career or this honor today if not for my coaches, teammates, professors and community. I am so very thankful for you all.
 

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