By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

The women’s swimming team completed its season with a ninth place finish at the 2016 PSAC Swimming Championships. The four-day event in York, Pa. concluded last Sunday.

This was the fourth consecutive ninth place finish for the Warriors.

The women’s swimming team from West Chester University won the PSAC championship title for the tenth straight time.

The Warriors were led by senior Ashleigh Podhayny, who swam the consolation final in four events.

Sophomore Kate Zimmerman was the only Warrior to reach a championship final over the weekend. She also swam in two consolation finals.

Senior and distance specialist Cyndi Kline reached two consolation finals in the 1000 free and the 1650 free.

Last Thursday was the opening day of the championships.

Podhayny swam the 200 IM in a season-best time of 2:08.54 for ninth place in the event.

Kline swam the 1000 free in 10:54.10 for 14th place.

The 200 medley relay team of Podhayny, Zimmerman, sophomore Allison Cardow, and sophomore Annie Fagan placed eighth in a time of 1:49.03.

Both Podhayny and Zimmerman swam the 400 IM on the second night.

Podhayny placed ninth, and Zimmerman finished 13th. Podhayny’s time of 4:36.40 was her season best, and Zimmerman’s time of 4:42.30 was a personal best.

In the 100 fly prelims, Cardow and senior Sophie McCoy both set new personal bests for themselves with times of 59.55 and 1:00.05 respectively.

The 200 free relay team of junior Kelly Buyaskas, senior Alexandra Woytko, Coy, and Fagan finished seventh in a time of 1:39.29.

In the 400 medley relay, the team of Podhayny, Zimmerman, Cardow, and Fagan finished tenth in a time of 4:03.19.

On the third night, the spotlight was on Zimmerman as the only Warrior to swim in the championship final of her event.

She finished eighth in the 100 breast with a time of 1:06.83.

Cardow, Coy, and Podhayny also reached consolation finals in their respective events on Saturday.

In the 100 breast, Coy finished 12th. In the 100 back, Podhayny finished 13th. In the 200 fly, Cardow finished 14th.

The quartet of Kline, Coy, Woytko, and Cardow finished ninth in the 800 free relay.

The final day saw three Warriors swimming in the consolation final of their respective events. Podhayny finished 11th in the 200 back.

Zimmerman placed 12th in the 200 breast, and Kline was 12th in the 1650 free.

The relay team of Podhayny, Kline, Buyaskas, and Fagan finished eighth in the 400 free relay in a time of 3:36.70 on Sunday.

Podhayny caps off an outstanding career as a Warrior with six school records.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu