LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - IUP's
Chris Villa was named the 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, as the league announced its postseason awards Friday afternoon.
Villa led the Crimson Hawks to one of the finest seasons in program history, including its first conference title this century and a 13th place finish at the NCAA championships.
IUP dominated from the start at 2021 PSAC Championships, winning seven individual and three relay titles during the two-day meet in York. Nine swimmers earned top-3 finishes at the championships and combined for 26 All-PSAC honors (21 individual, five relay). Junior
Paige Mikesell totaled seven event victories and was named the PSAC Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer at the championships for the second straight year.
A month prior at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships in Alabama, four women's swimmers combined for 11 All-American honors (eight individual, three relay) and broke five school records. Villa saw
Paige Mikesell win the national title in the 200 free and add two second place finishes (100 fly, 200 fly), while
Claire Mikesell added a second place finish in the 200 breaststroke. The 13th place finish at NCAAs is the best in 15 years under Villa's direction and the highest for the program since a seventh place finish in 2000.
In a season that began January 30 instead of its usual October start due to the pandemic, Villa and the Crimson Hawks went 3-0 in dual meets and competed just four times prior to the NCAA championships in March.
This is Villa's fourth career PSAC coach of the year honor, earning it three times on the women's side (2011, 2014, 2021) and once on the men's (2015).
PSAC postseason awards
The Coach of the Year honor for Villa came as the PSAC announced its 2020-21 postseason swimming awards Friday afternoon.
Paige Mikesell was named the women's Athlete of the Year while her younger brother Luke Mikesell was named men's Freshman of the Year.
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For coverage of the IUP men's and women's swimming programs, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPswimming and online at IUPAthletics.com.
