CALIFORNIA (Oct. 17) – The California University of Pennsylvania swimming program starts the 2019-20 campaign with a tri-meet at Shippensburg this weekend. The Vulcans roster features eight returners, including three seniors, and seven newcomers, while under the leadership of a new coaching staff.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Freshmen – 5
Sophomores – 3
Juniors – 4
Seniors – 3
 
FREESTYLE
The Vulcans return several Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifiers in the freestyle events. Cal U is also boasted by the addition of sophomore transfer Rylee Jackson, who was named the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Freshmen of the Year after competing primarily in the freestyle and backstroke events at West Virginia Wesleyan. Jackson recorded the top time in the MEC in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, while earning All-MEC honors in six different events. Senior Chassidy Raymond and junior Arli Tilves ranked among the top half on the team in the 50 and 100 freestyle in last year. Junior Krista Wycinsky is the team's top returner in the 200 and 500 freestyle after reaching the PSAC mark in several events last season. Senior Abigail Trocchio and junior Emma Klesen return to add depth in distance freestyle after posting league marks in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle. Junior Callie Hampson will see time in the rotation after racing in several events last season, while sophomore Megan Beam and freshman Leah Trocchio will also be competing in the freestyle events.
 
BACKSTROKE
Senior Karley Owens returns as the team's most experienced swimmer in the backstroke after posting a time of 2 minutes, 7.24 seconds in the 200 backstroke, which ranks fourth-best all-time in school history. Owens placed 14th overall and scored at the PSAC Championships last year in the 200 backstroke. Jackson also bring experience after recording the top time in the MEC in the 100 backstroke and earning All-MEC honors in the event. Raymond and Wycinsky are expected to make an impact in the events, while freshman Rachel Kennedy will also see time in the rotation.
 
BREASTSTROKE
Owens brings experience in the stroke after registering a PSAC mark in the 100 breaststroke and scoring in the event at the league championships last season. The Vulcans will also look to a trio of freshman in Avrey Barnes, Emily Bednar and Kelly Mark to make an influence in the breaststroke this season.
 
BUTTERFLY
Tilves and Raymond return in the butterfly after both individuals scored at the conference championships last season. Tilves is the team's top returner in the 100 butterfly, while Raymond has the best returning time in the 200 butterfly.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Owens brings the most experience to the event after posting the team's top times in the 200 and 400 IM last season. She set the third-fastest time in program history in the 200 individual medley with a mark of 2:09.28 in 2018. Owens also scored at the PSAC Championships with a 12th-place finish in the 200 IM last year. Sophomore Abbie Reichelderfer is also expected to make an impact in the event this campaign, while the freshman trio of Barnes, Kennedy and Mark will also see time in the events.
 
RELAY
The Vulcans will be looking to replace several members that competed on their primary relay teams at the 2019 PSAC Championships. Tilves participated as the anchor on the 200 medley relay and the third leg on the 400 freestyle relay at the league championships. Abigail Trocchio also returns after competing in the 800 freestyle relay as the third leg, which finished fifth at the conference championships last year.
 
HEAD COACH
An alumnus of the program and a veteran head coach at the NCAA Division II level, April Gitzen enters her first year as head swimming coach at Cal U during the 2019-20 season. Gitzen, formerly April Staniszewski '09, '10, served as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming programs at West Virginia Wesleyan for the last eight seasons. She was tabbed the MEC Coach of the Year three times over the past two years, receiving the laurel for men's swimming in both 2018 and 2019 and women's swimming in 2019. She replaces one of the longest tenured swimming coaches in the PSAC and the initial coach in program history, Ed Denny, who retired after 18 seasons in early September.
 
SCHEDULE
The Vulcans begin the year with a tri-meet on Oct. 18 at Shippensburg before returning home the next weekend to host Millersville on Oct. 25. Cal U then will travel to Juniata for a tri-meet on Nov. 2 before heading to Lock Haven the following day for a dual meet. The Vulcans close out November by traveling to compete at the Magnus Cup hosted by Cleveland State.
 
In December, Cal U heads to Davis & Elkins for a tri-meet on Dec. 7 before returning to campus following winter break to host the Vulcan Invitational, a two-day meet on Jan.17-18. The Vulcans will close the regular season by competing at a meet hosted by Pitt on Jan. 25.
 
Cal U will serve as the host for the PSAC Championships from Feb. 19-22 at the Graham Aquatic Center in York, Pennsylvania.