WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (October 18, 2018) — The King's College women's and men's swimming teams will open the 2018-19 season Friday, October 19, meeting with Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. at 6:00 p.m. while Saturday, October 20, they make their home debut against Cabrini University at 1:00 p.m. at the Scandlon Pool.
 
"This season is a new team; a bigger team and every year is different." Said head coach Matt Easterday, "I'm excited to see what the newcomers can bring to the women's team and also have our 12 returners lead us in a positive direction."

This season, Easterday will coach his largest roster to date totaling 39 swimmers with 21 comprising the women's team. Last season the Lady Monarchs finished with a 7-4 overall record and finished seventh place in Middle Atlantic Conference Championships.

Junior Kirsten Siwy tied for first place in the 200-breaststroke also posting a school-record time of 2:24.31 and breaking her own school mark. It was Siwy's second gold medal of the event as she defended her title in the 400-individual medley on Friday. She has now won three MAC individual championships in her collegiate career

FREE
The freestyle sprint will consist of three returning swimmers and six first-year Monarchs, the most out of any style. Seniors Melina Good, Mikayla Miller and junior Abbi Strennen return while Liz Savidge, Claire Coe, Stephanie Tabaka, Samantha Cote, Kellyo Keane and Corinne Smith make up the group of freshmen in the water.

Siwy, Alyssa Gesek and Miller placed sixth with a new school-record time of 8:10.20 in the 800-freestyle relay last season at championships while Good, Strennen, Kaelyn Gardner and Miller also placed in the 200-free relay at eighth also recording a school-best of 1:43.94.

The distance freestyle swim will mainly be done by junior Kailie Karensky and freshman Hannah Redding with Siwy also contributing.

BREASTSTROKE
Siwy will look to surpass her marks this season in her best style while being joined by her fellow upperclassmen Strennen, Good and Emily Bove. Newcomers Keane, Cote and Laura Bogert look to make an impact as a Monarch.

BUTTERFLY
The fly will be dominated by returners Gardner, Gesek and Lauren Pham. While first-year Smith will strive to become an integral part of the team.

BACKSTROKE
Noelle Pederson finished 10^th in the 200-backstroke and tallied a new school-record at the MAC Championships and strives to capitalize on her success from last season. Megan Whitt, Paige Molnar, Gardner and Pham also return to participate in the backstroke. Freshmen Savidge, Katelyn Duffy and Redding will also play a part.