York, Pa. — The Indiana University of Pennsylvania swim teams opened competition at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships with a solid first day, recording nine top-eight finishes and several standout individual performances.

Leading the way was Gem Crittenden, who placed third in the 200 individual medley while posting an NCAA "B" qualifying standard time of 2:05.9. On the men's side, Tyler Uhlig finished among the top five in the 1,000 freestyle, while Stephen Roth added a top-five effort in the 200 individual medley. The men's 800 freestyle relay also delivered a strong performance, finishing third overall.

Additional highlights for the Crimson Hawks included notable swims from Summer Esson, Benedetta Bellini and Tina Cudina, contributing depth to the women's side. IUP also recorded two finishes in the ninth-through-16th range and six additional swims placing 17th through 24th.

With the opening day complete, the Crimson Hawks remain positioned to build momentum as the championships continue. Competition resumes with morning preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m., followed by evening finals scheduled for 5:30 p.m.