SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's swimming team opened its 2022-23 season Wednesday with a dual-meet victory over fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent Kutztown, defeating the Golden Bears by a score of 131.5-111.5 in action at Donald N. Miller Pool.
 
Shippensburg used its depth to gain the dual-meet victory in the season opener. SU opened the night with positive momentum as the quartet of junior Sammy Taylor, junior Alyssa Tomb, sophomore Kristin Gebhard and sophomore Lauren Croll claimed victory in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:56.47 – defeating the Golden Bears by seven-tenths of a second.
 
The Raiders got individual wins on the night from Croll in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.81 seconds), Gebhard in the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.49), sophomore Gracie Wetzel in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:13.35) and freshman Grace Reagan in the 50-yard butterfly (28.84 seconds).
 
The most exciting race of the night came in the 1000-yard freestyle, as sophomore Allie Keeling posted a solid early-season time of 10:57.30 and was edged by just two-tenths of a second by Tash Sheehy. Keeling was the runner-up in the 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle, while junior Marissa Bittner was the runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.
 
Shippensburg returns to action on Saturday at West Chester; the Raiders will face the host Golden Rams and Southern Connecticut State in a tri-meet.
 
200 Medley Relay
1. Sammy Taylor, Alyssa Tomb, Kristin Gebhard, Lauren Croll 1:56.47
2. Lana Brown, Michaela Hersh, Gracie Wetzel, Grace Reagan 1:57.17
Kallie Lyle, Lexington Wagner, Maddi Dzurko, Emma Grove 2:02.45
 
1000 Freestyle
2. Allie Keeling 10:57.30
3. Jenna Ober 12:15.81
Jordyn Kendig 12:28.47
 
200 Freestyle
2. Marissa Bittner 2:05.57
3. Marina Cote 9:07.97
Rachel Johnston 2:11.01
 
50 Backstroke
2. Lana Brown 29.73
3. Sammy Taylor 30.47
Lexington Wagner 32.05
 
50 Breaststroke
1. Lauren Croll 32.81
2. Emily Newton 34.22
3. Emma Grove 34.79
 
100 Butterfly
1. Kristin Gebhard 1:04.49
2. Kallie Lyle 1:07.70
3. Rachel Johnston 108.96
 
50 Freestyle
3. Lana Brown 26.71
Emily Smith 27.23
Emily Newton 28.93
 
100 Freestyle
Lauren Croll 58.42
Grace Reagan 58.46
Kallie Lyle 1:01.58
 
100 Backstroke
2. Marissa Bittner 1:03.13
3. Michaela Hersh 1:03.91
Alyssa Tomb 1:06.21
 
100 Breaststroke
1. Gracie Wetzel 1:13.35
2. Lexington Wagner 1:15.40
3. Kristin Gebhard 1:16.15
 
500 Freestyle
2. Allie Keeling 5:27.02
3. Marina Cote 5:39.85
Gwen Elsey 5:57.65
 
50 Butterfly
1. Grace Reagan 28.84
2. Emily Smith 30.10
Maddi Dzurko 31.03
 
200 IM
2. Michaela Hersh 2:13.52
3. Rachel Johnston 2:28.54
Lexington Wagner 2:32.28
 
200 Free Relay
2. Allie Keeling, Lauren Croll, Sammy Taylor, Gracie Wetzel 1:44.69
3. Jenna Ober, Marissa Bittner, Emily Smith, Emma Grove 1:49.84
Marina Cote, Lana Brown, Jordyn Kendig, Gwen Elsey 1:51.01