Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

In her four years at IUP, Tawney Nardozza-Schmitt earned All-America honors each season, one of only four IUP women swimmers to hold that honor.

Not even previous IUP Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Leigh Lincoln (2000), Kim Berghoff (2003) or Janice Clarkson (2005) can match Nardozza-Schmitt's feat of appearing on All-America teams all four seasons of their college careers.

Like Nardozza-Schmitt, those three ladies helped usher in a string of success for IUP women's swimming in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but Nardozza-Schmitt stands apart as one of the top freestyle and butterfly swimmers.

The Duncansville native and graduate of Hollidaysburg High School burst onto the IUP swimming season in 1991 and set a freshman record in the 100 butterfly. Her record time of 59.34 seconds still stands and is the oldest record in women's swimming annals.

In 1991-92, she set a then-school record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.36 seconds which earned her a trip to the NCAA Division II meet. That year she also set a record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.94 seconds.

At the national meet the following year, she placed fifth in the 200 freestyle, sixth in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 50 freestyle. Although it has since been eclipsed, her 50 freestyle mark of 24.13 broke her own school record by two-tenths of a second.
Overall, Nardozza-Schmitt was a 19-time All-American, the most decorated IUP athlete in any sport. She won six PSAC event titles and once owned the school record in 10 separate events.

Nardozza-Schmitt's relay team included four-time All-American Tiffany Stover and two-time All-Americans Deidre Lamb and Katie Woodruff.

The team still holds the IUP record in the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. The marks of 1:36.42 and 3:29.75, respectively, are among the oldest records in school history.

In addition to her accomplishments in the pool, Nardozza-Schmitt was an outstanding student. She was twice named an Academic All-American (1993-94 and 1994-95) and received the ECAC Scholastic Achiever award both years. In 1995, Nardozza-Schmitt was voted the IUP Female Athlete of the Year by the student body and was chosen the IUP Woman of the Year.

She earned her bachelor's degree from IUP in 1994 and a master's of education degree in 1996. She is currently a fourth grade teacher in the Penn Hills School District and was an assistant swim coach from 1999-2004.

Nardozza-Schmitt and her husband, Joe, are the parents of sons Michael (4) and Nicholas (2) and daughter Siera (2).