Kutztown women looking to three-peat at F&M Invitational

KUTZTOWN, PA (December 3, 2009) – The swimming season in many ways resembles the academic calendar. So it seems only fitting that the last meet of the fall semester for the Kutztown University women's swimming team will serve as a final exam as it travels across Route 222 to Lancaster for the Franklin & Marshall Invitational this weekend.

The invite opens Saturday December 5 at 9 a.m. with the first session. Session II begin at 6 p.m. and session III is at 10 a.m. Sunday December 6. Results will be posted as they are released.

In addition to the Kutztown women, teams from Elizabethtown College, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Marymount University, McDaniel College, Rowan University, Susquehanna University, The College of New Jersey, Washington College, Widener University and St. Mary’s College will compete this weekend.

Already enjoying a memorable season, the Golden Bears will be looking to finish the first half of the season with a flourish. Kutztown has posted an impressive 11-1 overall record thanks to a 10-match win streak. The Golden Bears won their Invitational two weeks ago with a dominating effort.

“I'm excited by how were doing, but I'm also not going to get overconfident,” Kutztown coach Tim Flannery said. “We still have a long way to go until the third weekend in February.  A lot can happen between now and then.  The whole key is that we stay focused throughout December on our training and remaining healthy.  If we can accomplish that this month I think we'll be in great shape for the final push to the PSAC's.”

So far this season, the Golden Bears has aced every challenge. Kutztown endured a tough two-week period when it traveled halfway across the continent to defeat Alaska-Fairbanks and returned home the following week to beat Edinboro, Bloomsburg and Mansfield.

While winning the Franklin & Marshall meet for the third straight year would be nice, Flannery wants to see his ladies continue to swim faster. Setting some school records and earning NCAA qualifying times would be an early Christmas gift for Flannery.

“The most important thing this weekend is to qualify more swimmers for the PSAC championships and we have a few on the cusp of doing that (Steph Kearns, Helena Hewitt, Shelly Lawn),” Flannery said. “If we swim fast this weekend then we'll let the team placement fall wherever that might be.”

The Golden Bears expect to be challenged by the speed and depth of The College of New Jersey, one of the premiere Division III swimming programs in the country.  Fortunately for Flannery, many of the swimmers that experienced success at last year’s meet return this season.

Senior Steph Jeppesen (Bethlehem/Liberty) won three individual events and was a member of four winning relays at last year’s event. This season, she has been superb, winning every event she has entered. However, the Golden Bears have some swimmers who are beginning to find their groove according to Flannery.

“I think we should get a great meet from a lot of our women.” Flannery said. “Heather Wolkom, Alex Crigler and Kerry Choplin have been swimming great in the distance events this year.  Jordan Shapiro is ranked first in the 100 and 200 backstroke.  Lauren Malloy has been doing a great job in everything she's swum and Nikki Hinsdale is starting to come on in free and back.”

In addition to winning the 200 freestyle, Hinsdale was a member of three winning relays at last year’s F&M meet. Allison Sheely enjoyed a memorable meet last year as she also was a member of four winning relays. Sheely also won the 50 freestyle.   

“In order to win we'll have to move a lot of our swimmers into the top 16 in order to counter TCNJ's depth,” Flannery said. “If we can do that we'll have a chance but most importantly if we show up with the right frame of mind and ready to race I think we'll come close to achieving these goals.”