KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The undefeated Kutztown University women's swimming team will host Lock Haven University Saturday for a dual-meet at 1 p.m in Keystone Pool.
Kutztown is 6-0 in dual meets this season and has won 21 dual meets in a row. In addition to Senior Day, the meet will mark Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day in the memory of two swimmers' parents who died of the disease in the last year.
Donations will go to the American Cancer Society in the names of Kim Sianis, the mother of KU's
Zoe Sianis (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing), and John Terray, the father of Lock Haven's Amanda Terray.
Both teams will wear special caps to mark the occasion. The Golden Bears caps will be white with purple logos and the Lady Eagles will be with white logos.
Seniors
Kerry Choplin (Thorofare, N.J./West Deptford),
Katie Kelly (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West),
Shelly Lawn (Hatboro, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy),
Alexandra Crigler (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), and
Allison Sheely (Enola, Pa./Trinity) have shown dedication to the KU swimming program, and although it's a day of celebration, it brings a whirlwind of emotions.
"It's really sad that this is our last home meet," Choplin said. "All of us have been together for the past four years and to know that this is one of the last times we'll be swimming together is sad."
The seniors helped the Golden Bears win a school record 15 matches and finish fourth overall at the PSAC Championships.
Choplin is listed four times on the KU all-time individual top ten list. Although she is the shortest member on the KU swim team, the five foot, one inch Choplin has a heart bigger than most would ever imagine.
"It's really important to show awareness and that we're proactive," Choplin said. "We're honoring everyone that has suffered from cancer and to do this gives me another purpose in life. Athletes lose sight sometimes of what's important. Instead of always worrying about winning or losing, we should concentrate about the lives that are being lost."
Lawn, a math secondary education major has shown her versatility over the years as she has competed in events such as the 500-freestyle, 100-butterfly, 200-freestyle, and 1,650-yard freestyle. The thoughts of gaining growth, experience, and another family over her time at KU brings a huge smile to her face, but the thought of realizing that this time is almost over, brings saddened feelings of bemusement.
"I've been swimming for awhile and I just can't believe that I'm not going to be a swimmer anymore," Lawn said. "It's crazy to think about it, but the team is definitely like my family and I'm going to miss it. It's nice to have 17 best friends who are there for you all the time."
Sheely also is listed four times on the KU all-time individual top ten list and her name appears endlessly on the KU all-time top ten relay list. She also will miss the family bond and dynamic of the team that appears priceless to her. Her team's efforts to share senior day and support cancer awareness is one of the greatest gifts of all.
"By participating with Lock Haven and the community it shows that everybody can come together to support causes," Sheely said. "Also by doing this, it recognizes how thankful we are as a program for everyone's support."
Kelly has been on the Dean's List for the past four years. She is an elementary education major who is spending her last semester student teaching to children in the community. Kelly is listed twice on the KU all-time individual top ten list.
"I'm going to miss having people to talk with, share jokes, laugh or cry with," Sheely said. "It's going to be a lot different next year because we're going to be off doing other things and not being around them will be tough."
