SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's swimming team opened its season Wednesday evening with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory over Kutztown, 131-130, at Donald N. Miller Pool inside Heiges Field House.
 
The Raiders opened the meet by taking the top two spots in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of junior Makennah Fickett, sophomore Charlee Shaw, graduate Laurel Gingrich and senior Gracie Wetzel placed first with a time of 1:53.79, and the quartet of sophomore Michelle Kubiak, senior Lauren Croll, freshman Elyse Arnold and freshman Emma Gerlinski took second with a time of 1:56.18.
 
Fickett had a strong meet for Shippensburg, posting three individual victories as part of seven total individual wins on the day. Fickett won the 50-yard backstroke, the 50-yard butterfly, and the 200-yard IM.
 
Gingrich, Kubiak and Shaw also posted individual wins for the Raiders, with Gingrich taking the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.32), Kubiak winning the 100-yard backstroke (1:04.68), and Shaw taking the 50-yard breaststroke (32.06).
 
Freshman Olivia Carver picked up the final individual victory for SU, winning the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.09. Carver also took second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:05.77.
 
The meet came down to the 200-yard freestyle relay, with the Raiders holding a 127-117 edge over the Golden Bears. With KU needing to take first and second, the team of Carver, Arnold, Gerlinski, and Gingrich outraced Kutztown's "B" relay to take second place with a time of 1:42.83, clinching the meet for SU.
 
The Raiders will host Bloomsburg next Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
200 Medley Relay
1. Makennah Fickett, Charlee Shaw, Laurel Gingrich, Gracie Wetzel 1:53.79
2. Michelle Kubiak, Lauren Croll, Elyse Arnold, Emma Gerlinski 1:56.18
Kaitlyn Tannenhaus, Emily Newton, Paige Bensinger, Mackenzie Beerman 2:01.20
 
1000 Free
2. Olivia Carver 11:05.77
3. Carol Fabian 12:11.93
Olivia Sitkowski 12:32.70
 
200 Free
1. Laurel Gingrich 2:01.32
3. Michelle Kubiak 2:04.29
Emma Gerlinski 2:11.45
Mackenzie Burke 2:24.19
 
50 Back
1. Makennah Fickett 28.49
Grace Reagan 32.55
Madelyn Stoops 34.34
 
50 Breast
1. Charlee Shaw 32.06
2. Paige Bensinger 32.65
3. Lauren Croll 33.05
Emma Grove 34.35
Kaitlyn Tannenhaus 34.55
Emily Newton 35.08
 
100 Fly
1. Olivia Carver 1:02.09
3. Jenna Ober 1:06.97
Mackenzie Beerman 1:12.09
Carol Fabian 1:12.53
 
50 Free
3. Emma Gerlinski 26.85
Elyse Arnold 26.94
Brea Fennick 27.62
Madelyn Stoops 29.43
 
100 Free
2. Laurel Gingrich 55.16
Olivia Carver 56.40
Gracie Wetzel 57.30
Emma Grove 1:01.01
 
100 Back
1. Michelle Kubiak 1:04.68
Kaitlyn Tannenhaus 1:11.56
Brea Fennick 1:12.79
Madelyn Stoops 1:15.05
 
100 Breast
Emma Grove 1:16.05
Jenna Ober 1:16.04
Emily Newton 1:16.45
Mackenzie Burke 1:22.33
 
500 Free
Olivia Sitkowski 6:08.09
 
50 Butterfly
1. Makennah Fickett 27.35
3. Gracie Wetzel 28.26
Paige Bensinger 28.41
Elyse Arnold 28.49
Lauren Croll 28.55
Mackenzie Beerman 31.20
 
200 IM
1. Makennah Fickett 2:19.75
Jazz Barry 2:22.56
Michelle Kubiak 2:23.334
Jenna Ober 2:28.61
 
200 Free Relay
2. Olivia Carver, Elyse Arnold, Emma Gerlinski, Laurel Gingrich 1:42.83
3. Lauren Croll, Gracie Wetzel, Paige Bensinger, Mackenzie Beerman 1:45.72
Emma Grove, Grace Reagan, Mackenzie Burke, Brea Fennick 1:54.22