YORK, Pa. -- Freshman Julia Kopcho (Pemberton, N.J./Camden Catholic) collected a sixth-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle, Ana Soto (Hamburg, N.J./Vernon Township) broke her own school record in the 100-yard freestyle and brought home a seventh-place finish, and the Kutztown University swim team held off Gannon by a single point to secure a sixth-place team finish at the 2026 PSAC Championships on Saturday.

The Golden Bears' sixth-place showing was their best finish in 16 years, dating back to the 2010 PSAC Championships when they placed fourth. Kutztown's 541 points were also a new program-high in the conference championship meet.

Kopcho capped an impressive rookie season by capturing a sixth-place finish in the mile with a season-best swim. The Pemberton, N.J., native recorded a time of 17:40.85, nearly seven seconds clear of her former best (17:47.69). Kopcho also moved up to fourth on KU's top 10 list from her previous spot of sixth.

While Kopcho was wrapping up a successful first season in Maroon and Gold, Soto closed an accomplished career with the program by resetting her school record in the 100 freestyle and qualifying for the Championship Final. Soto cut almost a full tenth off her former record of 51.90 from this year's Franklin & Marshall Invitational in prelims with a 51.81 to rank sixth among 50 swimmers.

In the finals, Soto almost mirrored her time with a 51.86 to place seventh and earn Kutztown 23 crucial points on the heels of Kopcho's 24 points from the 1,650 free. Soto will depart Kutztown with school records in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free relay, while appearing on KU's top 10 list 13 times (three individual events, 10 relays).

Fellow senior Annamarie Rodier (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) swam her heat of the 1,650 free during the morning session and wound up 11th overall following the evening session to add 16 points to the Bears' total. Rodier finished in 17:54.94 and closes her KU career with eight top 10 times (five individual events, three relays).

Tatum Rothermel (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) gained two spots from her 16th-place qualifying effort in the 200 breaststroke to finish 14th in 2:27.24.

Kutztown slipped behind Gannon into seventh-place heading into the meet's final event but a strong performance by Soto, Phoebe Armes (Somerset, UK/Millfield School), Frannie Pease-Wingenter (Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium) and Kopcho in the 400 free relay made the difference in jumping back in front of the Golden Knights. KU's time of 3:34.38 was good for sixth (second-fastest in school history), while Gannon took eighth in 3:35.13. The four-point separation gave KU a one-point edge in the final standings, 541-540.

West Chester retained the PSAC title for the fourth year running with 1,342 points. IUP finished runner-up with 1106.5, Bloomsburg was third (1014.5), Clarion fourth (983) and Edinboro fifth (666).
 

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2026 PSAC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wednesday-Saturday, February 18-21
York, Pa. | Graham Aquatic Center
 
KUTZTOWN RESULTS
All distances in yards

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
TEAM: 6th/12 (541 pts.)
 
PRELIMS
1650 Freestyle (32 competitors)
11. Annamarie Rodier (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape), 17:54.94, 16 pts.
30. Lorelei Grove (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion), 19:02.91
31. Camryn Sedora (Chester, Md./Kent Island), 19:04.25
 
* Top eight seeds swim during evening session
 
100 Freestyle (50 competitors)
6. Ana Soto (Hamburg, N.J./Vernon Township), 51.81, A Final Qualifier, 1st all-time at KU (prev. 1st, 51.90 at F&M Invitational)
30. Frannie Pease-Wingenter (Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium), 55.24
32. Lucy Bishop (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), 55.44
34. Sara Bing (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), 55.54
40. Kara Damico (Brookhaven, Pa./Sun Valley), 56.19
 
200 Backstroke (39 competitors)
27. Phoebe Armes (Somerset, UK/Millfield School), 2:13.58
31. Ryleigh Czerwinski (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion), 2:14.92
 
200 Breaststroke (50 competitors)
16. Tatum Rothermel (Halifax, Pa./Halifax), 2:28.83, B Final Qualifier
25. Birta Smaradottir (Mosfellsbær, Iceland/Commercial College of Iceland), 2:31.93
 
FINALS
1650 Freestyle (Top 8 seeds)
6. Julia Kopcho (Pemberton, N.J./Camden Catholic), 17:40.85, 24 pts., 4th all-time at KU
 
100 Freestyle
7. Ana Soto (Hamburg, N.J./Vernon Township), 51.86, 23 pts.
 
200 Backstroke
None
 
200 Breaststroke
14. Tatum Rothermel (Halifax, Pa./Halifax), 2:27.24, 13 pts.
 
400 Freestyle Relay (12 teams)
6. Kutztown 'A' (A. Soto, P. Armes, F. Pease-Wingenter, J. Kopcho), 3:34.38, 48 pts., 2nd all-time at KU