After competing in the University of Pittsburgh Senior Recognition Meet, the California University of Pennsylvania have solidified their roster heading into the PSAC Championship Tournament.

The roster consists of one junior, Jade Arganbright, one sophomore, Hannah Trocchio, and five freshmen. The freshmen include Kira Goin, Danielle de Perrot, Lauren McAnany, Summer McIntyre, and Rebecca Wilkerson. All seven swimmers competed in the Pitt Meet on January 30.

The team did not secure a victory in any of  the races, but had some significant accomplishments. According to head coach, Ed Denny, records don’t matter in swimming, espcially at a meet like Pitt, where it is just another chance to swim in a championship style pool before the PSAC meet.

“What’s interesting about swimming is, a one loss record isn’t important. It looks nice on paper, but it’s not important to get to the PSAC Championships or the NCAA Division II Championships. It’s all about the individual performances and if we score well as a team and happen to win a dual meet, then that’s a bonus. It’s all based on what our individual qualifying times are and our relay qualifying times,. The women know that if we race as well as possible we’re going to beat a lot of people and if we happen to win the dual meet, great. But if we lose the dual meet but have people qualify for the conference meet, that’s more important,” Denny said.

Denny’s advice to his swimmers at the Pitt meet, and going into the PSAC has been simple. “I keep it as simple as possible. When we were little in the summer time you go with your friends to the local pool and say “Hey I’ll race you to the other side.” And you race back and forth? I tell them that’s really all we’re doing again here.”

Taking her coach’s advice, and even etablishing solid performances before PSAC Championship Tournament, McAnany competed, and set a personal, and season-best, time in the 1000 meter freestyle. McAnany finished the 1000 freestyle with a time of 11:43:22.

Competing in four different events at Pitt, Goin said she’s excited, yet also nervous, about going to the PSAC Tournament. Goin said her first year so far has been very good. “I’ve improved a lot, compared to any other year ever. I found that my fitness is up and I feel really good.”

Head coach Ed Denny even noted how successful Goin has been in her first year. “Kira is flat out fast, and she’s still learning how to control things when she’s going very, very fast. She has done a tremendous job this year.”

Goin can agree with her head coach’s statement. “Coach Denny has taught me so much than I’ve ever learned in my whole swimming career, and he’s right. I still have a lot to work on, including technique, which I think is what is going to help me improve at this point.”

On how she and her other six teammates are going to prepare for the PSAC Tournament, Goin said they’re going to spend the next week resting. “We’re going to do less and then we’ll get a little more intense as the days get closer.”

The PSAC Tournament will be held in York, Pennsylvania during February 18-21. Depending on results from the PSAC Tournament, the swim team could possibly send a swimmer or maybe more to the NCAA Tournament, which is in mid March.