INDIANA, Pa. – Indiana University of Pennsylvania swimming opened the 2026 calendar with a commanding performance, sweeping both team titles at the IUP New Year's Kick Off Invitational at Zink Pools.
The Crimson Hawks posted 183 points on the women's side and 134 points in the men's competition, comfortably outdistancing Davis & Elkins College in both standings.
IUP set the tone early by winning both 200-yard medley relays. The women's "A" relay of Jordan Crupie, Tina Cudina, Gem Crittenden and Summer Esson touched first in 1:51.79, while the men's quartet of Ty Uhlig, Brody Davies, Trent Powell and Nick Vaow captured the opener in 1:37.36.
Crittenden turned in one of the day's top individual performances, sweeping the women's 100 butterfly, 50 butterfly and 100 individual medley. She also helped anchor multiple relay wins as IUP controlled the sprint events throughout the meet.
Cudina claimed victories in the women's 50 and 100 freestyle, while Kyla Kramer swept the breaststroke events with wins in both the 50 and 100. Lillian Farmer added a win in the 100 backstroke, and Esson highlighted the distance events with a victory in the 200 freestyle.
On the men's side, Powell recorded a pair of wins in the butterfly events, taking the 100 in 52.47 and the 50 in 24.10. Nick Vaow captured the 50 freestyle, Ty Uhlig won the 100 backstroke, and Alexander Roth claimed the 100 individual medley.
IUP closed the meet in dominant fashion, winning both 200 freestyle relays. The women's team of Esson, Julianne Zaffiro, Farmer and Cudina finished in 1:43.94, while the men's relay of Stephen Goff, Vaow, Powell and Uhlig touched in 1:27.67.
The invitational served as a strong season-opening statement as the Crimson Hawks showcased depth across events and strong relay execution heading into the heart of the schedule.
