RESULTS

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Kutztown University women's swimming team enjoyed a day of honoring five seniors and giving back to the community as it defeated Lock Haven University 148-105, in a dual meet Saturday afternoon at Keystone Pool.

Kutztown is 7-0 in dual meets this season and has won 22 straight. The Golden Bears won nine of the 14 events and finished in second in nine events against Lock Haven.

Not only were the ladies of the Golden Bears ecstatic for its win, but paid tribute to Allison Sheely (Enola, Pa./Trinity), Shelly Lawn (Hatboro, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy), Alexandra Crigler (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Kerry Choplin (Thorofare, N.J./West Deptford) and Katie Kelly (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West). As the seniors took their final walk around Keystone Pool, they were honored with pink and red roses, balloons, and posters signed by their teammates. Parents and the audience were filled with cheer as cameras flashed endlessly. Kutztown University women's swimming coach Tim Flannery was one of the proudest amongst everyone.

"This was a great day to celebrate an excellent four years by this group of seniors," Flannery said. "Just being able to swim and stay with it for four years is a great accomplishment. This group has a lot to be proud of."

Their hard work and efforts for KU will be missed, but when one door closes, another will open.

"I'm definitely glad that we won the meet because, it shows all the work we've put in through the season," Kelly said. "This being my last home meet is sad. I had a lot of great memories in this pool and I'm sad to see my four years end."

KU and LHU came together in the name of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day for a fundraiser in honor of Kim Sianis, the mother of KU's Zoe Sianis (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing), and John Terray, the father of Lock Haven's Amanda Terray. Fans from Kutztown and Lock Haven flooded the stands with purple shirts to honor the cause. The Golden Bears caps were white with purple logos and the Lady Eagles were purple with white logos. Their efforts raised $523.31 for the American Cancer Society.

"It was great to participate and give back," Crigler said. "It's really important to do something like this for Zoe. Today was really emotional and it feels like I'm leaving my family. I know I'll be friends with them forever and it's great to have their support."

Jordan Shapiro (Yardville, N.J./Princeton) claimed three events for the Golden Bears. Shapiro won the 100-yard backstroke (1 minute, 2 seconds) which was a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifying time. She also snatched first place in the 200-yard backstroke (2:15.25), and 50-yard freestyle (25.62).

Crigler picked up a victory in the 1650-yard freestyle (17:58.94) which was a NCAA B cut qualifying time and won the 500-yard freestyle qualifying for the PSAC (5:18.71).

Other first place winners for Kutztown were Lauren Malloy (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic) with a PSAC qualifying time in the 200-yard butterfly, Kerry Choplin (Thorofare, N.J./West Deptford) (200-yard freestyle), Lauren Piorkowski (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) (200-yard breaststroke), and the 200-yard relay team consisting of Sheely, Natalie Carr (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area), Malloy, and Shapiro.

Jess Mape (Camp Hill, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) came in second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a PSAC qualifying time of 1:07.96. Stephanie Kearns (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) also had a PSAC qualifying time, finishing second in the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.41). Other second place finishers were Sheely (100-yard backstroke and 50-yard freestyle), Elizabeth Metz (Rosemont, Pa./Radnor) (1650-yard freestyle), Lauren Galetto (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart) (200-yard butterfly), Nikki Hinsdale (Glen Mills, Pa./Bayard Rustin) (200-yard backstroke), Carr (200-yard breaststroke), and Choplin (500-yard freestyle).

Other PSAC qualifying times were met by Galetto and Crigler in the 200-yard butterfly and Choplin in the 500-yard freestyle.

The Golden Bears return to action Friday, Jan. 28 as they travel to California, Pa for the Vulcan Dual Meet Challenge Invitational.