McKee makes great first impression as KU women's swimming opens season with 118-72 win over Lock Haven

RESULTS

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Gracie McKee (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) had to wait patiently for her first chance to swim competitively for Kutztown University.

She joined the Golden Bears prior to the 2020-21 season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday afternoon, she made her long-awaited debut by winning three events, setting two PSAC qualifying marks and the program's seventh fastest 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard individual medley times in a season-opening 118-72 victory for the Golden Bears over Lock Haven at the Keystone Pool.

McKee started her big day by teaming with Emmarose DeCaro (Apex, N.C./Apex), Charlotte Owens (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) and anchor Keelie Walker (York, Pa./York Suburban) to win the 200 medley relay in 1:56.45. The junior from Boyertown, Pa., then cruised to a near 20 second win in the 400 IM, breaking into KU's top 10 with a time of 4:49.87.

McKee established a PSAC qualifying time in the 400 IM and did so in the 100 back as well, also placing herself seventh on the program's all-time top 10 with a winning effort of 1:01.04, 4.9 seconds ahead of the Bald Eagles' Madison Griffin.

DeCaro joined her new teammate in winning three times for the Golden Bears (1-0, 1-0 PSAC). After being involved in the 200 medley relay, the North Carolinian went on to take the 200 freestyle in 2:10.10 and the 500 free in 6:03.25.

Kutztown got two more wins from veterans and one from a newcomer to finish off a meet in which it won 8-of-11 events. Walker, a senior, led a 1-2-3 Golden Bear finish in the 100 free with a time of 58.77. Ainsley Fischer (Newark, Del./Delaware Military Academy) followed at 1:00.35 and Owens was third at 1:00.80. Owens, another of the Bears' seniors, claimed the 100 breaststroke in 1:15.42 ahead of teammate Jade Ware (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area) (1:16.41).

Sophomore Jaylin Calistro (Temple, N.H./Contoocook Valley Regional), making her KU debut, won the 100 fly in 1:07.13.

Kutztown travels to East Stroudsburg Friday night for a tri-meet with the host Warriors and Cal U. The three teams will then turn around to swim at the Keystone Pool on Saturday, Oct. 30, at noon.

KUTZTOWN RESULTS

200 Medley Relay
1. Kutztown 'A' (Emmarose DeCaro (Apex, N.C./Apex), Charlotte Owens (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg), Gracie McKee (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), Keelie Walker (York, Pa./York Suburban)), 1:56.45

1000 Freestyle
2. Jocelyn Seidt (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), 12:27.91

200 Freestyle
1. Emmarose DeCaro (Apex, N.C./Apex), 2:10.10
2. Jade Ware (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area), 2:11.07

50 Freestyle
2. Keelie Walker (York, Pa./York Suburban), 26.74
3. Ainsley Fischer (Newark, Del./Delaware Military Academy), 27.31

400 IM
1. Gracie McKee (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), 4:49.87, PSAC qualifying, 7th all-time at KU
3. Keara Bedson (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), 5:29.57

100 Butterfly
1. Jaylin Calistro (Temple, N.H./Contoocook Valley Regional), 1:07.13
3. Jocelyn Seidt (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), 1:10.13

100 Freestyle
1. Keelie Walker (York, Pa./York Suburban), 58.77
2. Ainsley Fischer (Newark, Del./Delaware Military Academy), 1:00.35
3. Charlotte Owens (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg), 1:00.80

100 Backstroke
1. Gracie McKee (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), 1:01.04, PSAC qualifying, 7th all-time at KU
4. Jaylin Calistro (Temple, N.H./Contoocook Valley Regional), 1:16.22

500 Freestyle
1. Emmarose DeCaro (Apex, N.C./Apex), 6:03.25
2. Jocelyn Seidt (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), 6:09.10

100 Breaststroke
1. Charlotte Owens (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg), 1:15.42
2. Jade Ware (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area), 1:16.41
4. Keara Bedson (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), 1:18.46

200 Free Relay
2. Kutztown 'A' (Ainsley Fischer (Newark, Del./Delaware Military Academy), Jaylin Calistro (Temple, N.H./Contoocook Valley Regional), Keara Bedson (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), Jade Ware (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area)), 1:50.46

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