YORK, Pa. - For the first time since 1999, the IUP women's swimming program has won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship, capturing the team title at the Graham Aquatic Center Saturday night. 

The Crimson Hawks dominated from the start, leading the way after each of the four sessions. They finished with 1658 points in the standings, nearly 350 ahead of second place Bloomsburg (1317.5). Shippensburg (1105 points) finished third, Gannon (855.5) was fourth, Clarion (645.5) was fifth, and Edinboro (577.5) was sixth. Also competing during the two-day championship weekend was Cal U, Millersville, Lock Haven and East Stroudsburg.

Junior Paige Mikesell was named the PSAC Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer for the second year in a row, finishing with four individual and three relay titles. 

IUP totaled six event wins on day two alone, including both relays. Paige Mikesell won the 200 yard butterfly (159.71) in the morning and the 100 yard freestyle (51.01) in the evening, also swimming legs of the winning 800 and 400 freestyle relays. 

Paige's older sister Claire Mikesell grabbed the other two individual victories, breaking her own school record in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.05. She also won the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:15.66. 

Saturday individual scorers
Those scoring points in individual events on Saturday included Parker Fanella (500 free, 100 back, 200 back), Olivia Santee (500 free, 200 back), Clara Gracia (500 free, 1650 free), Michelle Lopes (500 free, 100 free), Kiera Scudder (500 free, 1650 free), Morgan Furlong (500 free, 100 fly), Havannah Suarez (500 free, 1650 free), Amber Baldani (100 back, 200 back), Rachel Johnson (100 breast, 200 breast), Erin Moyer (100 breast, 200 breast), Rachel Blackburn (100 breast, 200 breast), Sara Tipmongkol (100 breast, 200 breast), Kaylee Kassa (200 fly, 1650 free), Brooke Christian (200 fly), Iliana Oikonomou (100 free), and Emma Winchell (100 free).

PSAC championship event winners
Paige Mikesell (4) - 200 IM, 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 free
Claire Mikesell (2) - 100 breast, 200 breast
Rachel Johnson (1) - 400 IM
Relays (3) - 400 medley, 800 free, 400 free

This concludes arguably the most successful, albeit pandemic-shortened, season in the history of the IUP women's swimming program. Not only did the Crimson Hawks win the conference title and see 10 event champions, but four swimmers combined for 11 All-American honors and a 13th place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships. 

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