YORK, Pa. – IUP swimming notched two school records and had strong performances across both teams in the opening day of 2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Swimming Championships at the Graham Aquatic Center.
Posting 20 season-bests times, the Hawks enter the remainder of the championships with plenty of momentum. The women's squad is second overall in the team standings with 190.5 points, while the men are fifth overall with 79 points.
Paige Mikesell defended her conference crown in the 200 IM, touching the wall first in 2:02.71, with teammate
Rachel Johnson following in second with a 2:04.05. Both student-athletes recorded NCAA B Cut times in the event, also helping the 800 free relay to a podium finish with a second-place time of 7:40.33.
IUP's group of
Stephen Goff,
Luke Mikesell,
Edoardo Colucci and
Blake Hendricks posted a new school record in the men's 800 free relay (6:74.54). It was one of two school-record relay times for IUP as
Jordan Crupie, Johnson, Mikesell and
Amber Baldani registered a new program mark of 1:42.85 in the 200 medley relay, an NCAA B Cut standard.
"It was a great start to the championships; starting and finishing the opening day with school records," IUP head coach
Chris Villa said. "Top to bottom, the team had great energy and high spirits all day.
Thomas McGillan added an NCAA B Cut for the IUP men in the 50 free (20.60), while
Ryan Hartmann and
Luke Mikesell also provided standout performances for the Hawks. Hartmann finished seventh in the 200 IM final in the evening session, while L. Mikesell logged fourth in the 1000 free (9:32.76).
Taylor Peoples won a swim-off to earn a top 16 finish in the prelims earlier in the day for IUP.
Traditionally a team that gets stronger as the championships progress, IUP returns to action for day two of the 2023 PSAC Swimming Championships on Thursday, February 16 with the prelims at 10:00 a.m.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP men's and women's swimming programs, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPSwimDive and online at IUPAthletics.com.
