FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Gear Up for PSAC Championships
 
YORK, Pa. – Starting Thursday, the Mansfield swim team will send Abigail Zdancewicz, Amanda Ernst, Connie Medura and Hilary Feudale to compete individually at the 13-team PSAC Championship Meet.
 
This is the most individual qualifiers Mansfield has sent to the conference meet in recent history.
 
"I am looking for the girls to bring a high amount of energy to this meet," said head coach Kaymee Kelly. "The girls have worked hard these past few months, and I'm excited for their efforts to pay off. We are hoping for each of them to get top sixteen finishes as well as new individual records."
 
Zdancewicz led the way for the Mounties in the 2014-15 regular season with three PSAC qualifications and two school records. In the 500 freestyle, the sophomore's strongest event, Zdancewicz's PSAC qualifying school record of 5:19.77 has her seeded at 25^th. The distance swimmer also qualified in the 1650 and 200 freestyle events. Zdancewicz's 18:41.01 has her seeded 17^th in the 1650. Even though the Springville native qualified in the 200 with a 2:02.49, Zdancewicz will be competing in the 1000 freestyle instead. At the Diamond City Invitation, Zdancewicz set the school record in the 1000 with a time of 11:15.01.
 
Ernst made waves this year as the only freshman on the Mansfield squad to qualify for the PSAC meet. The freshman qualified in the 100 butterfly against Division I Howard at the beginning of the season. Ernst's 1:01.87 time has her seeded 34^th. Ernst also qualified in the 50 freestyle at the Diamond City Invitational. The Orchard Park native's 25.64 time has Ernst seeded at 47^th. Additionally, Ernst will be competing in the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
 
Medura capped off the regular season with two PSAC qualifications and a school record. The sophomore set the school record in the 200 breaststroke as she qualified for PSACs with a 2:33.17 finish at the Diamond City Invitational. Medura, Mansfield's breaststroke specialist, also qualified in the 100 breaststroke with 1:10.86 finish. The Nanticoke native is seeded 21^st in the 200 and 24^th in the 100.
 
After transferring from Wells College, Feudale, Mansfield's backstroke specialist, garnered two qualifications in her first season in the PSAC. The junior from Coal Township is seeded 33^rd in the 200 backstroke with a 2:16.38 time and 35^th in the 100 backstroke with a 1:02.28 time.
 
The Mounties are also bringing freshmen Alexis Cable and Candace Brown to improve times in the five relay events.
 
"We really want to improve our relay finishes this weekend. Our hope is to set a few school records in the process," said Kelly. "Overall, we are working towards a better finish in the conference both individually and as a team."
 
The four-day meet is set to begin on Feb. 19 with it concluding Feb. 22 at the YMCA of York County. Doors open at 8 a.m. for the preliminary sessions, and at 4:30 (Thursday-Saturday) and 3:30 (Sunday) for the final sessions.
 
Below is the schedule of events for the Mountaineer swim team.
 
Thursday, Feb. 19
Prelims: 10:00 a.m.
50 Free (Ernst)
1000 Free (Zdancewicz)

Finals: 6:00 p.m.
1000 Free
50 Free
200 Medley Relay
 
Friday, Feb. 20
Prelims: 10:00 a.m.
100 Fly (Ernst)

Finals: 6:00 p.m.
200 Free Relay
100 Fly
400 Medley Relay
 
Saturday, Feb. 21
Prelims: 10:00 a.m.
500 Free (Zdancewicz)
100 Back (Feudale, Ernst)
100 Breast (Medura)

Finals: 6:00 p.m.
500 Free
100 Back
100 Breast
800 Free Relay
 
Sunday, Feb. 22
Prelims: 10:00 a.m.
100 Free (Ernst)
200 Back (Feudale)
200 Breast (Medura)
1650 Free (Zdancewicz)

Finals: 5:00 p.m.
1,650 Free (Last Heat)
100 Free
200 Back
200 Breast
400 Free Relay