The Gannon University women’s swim and diving team is venturing into uncharted waters.
The Lady Knights swept a pair of Division I programs to reach the 10-win plateau for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
The women swept a twinbill at the Canisius Tri-Meet Saturday afternoon by narrowly defeating host Canisuis College 59-54, before beating Siena University 60-45. Gannon improved to 10-3 overall and are now in the midst of a four-meet winning streak as they prepare for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play.
“The girls swim team is doing better this year than we have in a long time,” said sophomore Katie Vincent, who led the Knights’ attack, delivering two first-place finishes Saturday. “Our coach is challenging us more in practice and the whole team is working extremely hard.”
Vincent was part of a 200-yard medley relay team that opened up the meet in thrilling fashion. Sophomore Rachel King led off the relay, Vincent and freshman Amanda Knapp comprised the second and third legs, and Senior Kaitlyn Bosy anchored the squad that registered a time of one minute, 53.12 seconds and bettered Canisius by less than one second.
Vincent also took home the 200-yard breaststroke with a pool-record time of two minutes, 28.12 seconds.
Freshman Katie Joseph also contributed to the Knights’ cause by posting a winning time of 54.81 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle.
In addition to the Knights’ success Saturday, Gannon also came back from Mesa, Ariz. with a top-place finishing in the Citrus Classic on Dec. 30.
Meanwhile, the Gannon men dropped their only decision of the day to Canisius, 148-86.
The Gannon men also wrapped up three wins, two of which belonged to freshman Adam Chrzanowski.
Chrzanowski touched the wall first the 500-yard freestyle by registering a time of four minutes, 56.40 seconds, before comprising the third leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that took home first with a time of three minutes, 15.07 seconds.
Jared Griffard captured Gannon’s third title with a conference-qualifying time of two minutes, 14.28 seconds in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Head coach Nathan Walters said that all the traveling and competition should be advantageous for the Knights once the conference season begins.
“We’ve logged quite a few miles, and we’ve beaten some good teams, as well as lost to some good teams,” he said. “But both sides of the experience should help us once we start getting into the stretch run.”
The Knights will take part in the Clarion Tri-Meet Saturday, in which they will face off against host Clarion and Edinboro universities.
Walters said now is the time when the teams will really make their marks.
“It’s really back to business now because this is where things really start to get going,” he said.
Vincent said she has already set a goal in her mind.
“Hopefully our success thus far this year is a foreshadowing of a PSAC finish better than our 6th place finish last year.”
