Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

When Kim Berghoff Furst concluded her IUP career, she ranked as the most decorated athlete in school history.
With five top-nine finishes at the 1993 NCAA Division II swimming meet, Furst raised her total of All-America honors to 11, a figure no other IUP athlete in any sport could match. Small wonder she was elected to the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility, a rare honor.
After graduating from Franklin Regional High School in 1989, Furst wasted little time making an impact at IUP. She earned her first two All-America honors at the NCAA meet in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, as a sophomore, then really blossomed as a junior. Highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the 200 backstroke, she collected four All-America honors at the Division II meet in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Furst capped her career with a dazzling senior season. She was unbeaten in the 200 backstroke in dual meets for the second year in a row, set a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record of 2:07:07 while winning the 200 backstroke at the conference meet and swam on IUP's victorious 200 freestyle relay team. Furst was also selected as an AIIPSAC performer for the fourth consecutive year.
She finished the 1992-93 season with a flourish. At the NCAA meet in Canton, Ohio, Furst placed fifth in the 200 freestyle relay, sixth in the 400 freestyle relay, seventh in the 200 individual medley and ninth in the both the 100 and 200 backstroke. That boosted her All-America total to 11, a school record that has since been surpassed by swimmers Tawney Nardozza (19), Petra Adamkova (14) and Katie Woodruff (12).
For her efforts, Furst repeated as the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce/Pennsylvania Blue Cross and Blue Shield NCAA Division ll Woman Athlete of the Year. She was also named IUP's NCAA Woman of the Year by the university's athletic staff, the first swimmer recognized with the award.
When she finished at IUP, Furst held eight school records, three in individual events (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley) and five in relays. Her mark of 2:I0:28 in the 200 IM still stands.
Furst excelled in schoolwork as well as pool work during her time at IUP. An early childhood education major, she was named to the Dean's List in seven of her eight semesters on campus and was a two-time Academic All-American.
After graduating from IUP in 1993, Furst served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for a season, then earned a Master’s in education degree from Kutztown University in 1999. She now manages an Ann Taylor women's clothing store in Glen Mills.
Furst and her husband, Christopher, were married in 2001.