LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Lock Haven swimming team will open the 2024-25 season by competing in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Fall Sprint Frenzy/Invite on Friday, Oct. 11 in York, Pennsylvania.
 
A Look at the Schedule:
Following the season opener at the Graham Aquatic Center, The Haven will host East Stroudsburg in its home opener on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Zimmerli Pool. This meet will open The Haven's PSAC competitive schedule.
 
Lock Haven's first road meet is at Lycoming College on Oct. 26 before returning home on Nov. 2 when they host California (Pa.). The remainder of the Bald Eagles' home schedule includes Millersville on Dec. 14 and Saint Francis on Jan. 24.
 
The Wooster Invite will take place from Dec. 5-7 and will be held in Wooster, Ohio.
 
The PSAC Swimming Championships for the 2024-25 season will take place from Feb. 17-20 in York, Pa. at the Graham Aquatic Center.
 
The NCAA DII Championships will be hosted by IUPUI in Indianapolis, Ind. from March 12-15.
 
Live Coverage - Fans can watch all home swimming events and read post meet recaps at GoLHU.com.
 
Head Coach:
The 2024-25 season will mark head coach Jerry Hammaker's third at The Haven. In his second season at the helm, Hammaker led the Bald Eagles to a pair of dual meet victories for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
 
Back for More:
The Bald Eagles will benefit from experience in 2024-25, as they return every swimmer from last season's roster. Houck, Alaina Cane, Holly Cleworth, Nora Craig, Makenzie Eades, Jessie Noldy, Emma Pequignot, and Espefani Santos-Soto return to The Haven.
 
"I look forward to working with an outstanding group of returning swimmers," Hammaker said. "We were able to bring back 100% of our swimmers from last season. They proved to be a group of hard-working student-athletes who all got along great. It was a very fun team to coach."
 
Eades, Houck, and Pequignot have been named captains for the second year in a row.
 
"We have a strong group of seniors this year," Hammaker said. "Sydney Houck has proven to be a gem of a diamond-in-the-rough breaststroker, who has improved by leaps and bounds over the last two seasons. I am expecting more of the same from her this year, while she maintains her 4.0 gpa in a rigorous academic program. Emma Pequignot is another returning captain who takes on the 200 Fly and 400 IM with gusto. Emma always has a positive attitude and amazing work ethic. Makenzie Eades is a junior, but will be entering the second phase of her 3+2 accelerated PA program next year.  We hope to have her back to participate next year, but are sort of treating this season as her final one… at least for now.  She is another one of our three captains (Houck, Pequignot) who brings amazing leadership and positive role modeling to the team."
 
The Bald Eagles saw four individuals and six overall student-athletes qualify for the 2023-24 PSAC Swimming Championships. At the Championship event, Houck was named the PSAC Champion Scholar for Women's Swimming, becoming the third Bald Eagle in Athletic Department history to earn the award.
 
Individual Qualifiers
Sydney Houck: 200-yard breaststroke (2:35.42), 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.58)
Alaina Craig: 100-yard freestyle (55.81), 100-yard butterfly (1:00.79)
Holly Cleworth: 200-yard backstroke (2:08.36), 100-yard backstroke (58.28), 200-yard freestyle (2:01.54), 500-yard freestyle (5:28.02), 50-yard butterfly (27.55), 200-yard IM (2:14.49), 50-yard freestyle (25.91)
Emma Pequignot: 200-yard butterfly (2:12.3), 200-yard IM (2:18.11)
 
Additional Competitors (Relay)
Makenzie Eades, Nora Craig.
 
Following the four-day event, The Haven finished with 67 more team points than the previous season.
 
To read more on last year's championship event, follow the links below.
 
Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 Recap
 
"Underclass returners include Alaina Cane, Holly Cleworth, Nora Craig, and Jessie Noldy," Hammaker added. "Alaina established herself as one of our most improved swimmers during her freshman year. She had huge time drops in her 100 Fly and in sprint free. Holly Cleworth established herself as one of the top swimmers in the PSAC. Holly had an interesting development into both short course swimming (she did primarily long course in South Africa) and swimming within a team-scored environment. We expect to see big things from Holly this season. Nora Craig established herself as a team leader and one of the hardest working swimmers on our team. Nora will have a significant impact on our roster this year both by scoring in her events and by setting a great example for the new swimmers. Jessie Noldy was a wonderful addition to our team last year. She is such a delight to coach and to have as a positive attitude influence around the other swimmers. Espefani Santos-Soto is entering her final semester and will be graduating in December. She is a joy to work with and hopefully we can end her collegiate swimming career with a fast semester."
 
Growing in Numbers:
Lock Haven should benefit from a strong recruiting class going from a roster size of eight to 21.
 
"We bring a large group of new swimmers to the team this year," Hammaker said. "Our 'small, but fierce' roster from last year really does become a full-sized flock of Bald Eagle Swimmers this season. We will be able to fill a number of holes in our lineup and they will immediately challenge for relay spots. We are looking forward to being more competitive during our meets this season."
 
Swimming to host three (Get) Quick Clinics
Learn more
 
The cost of each clinic is $20 and payment will be accepted upon arrival. All proceeds benefit the Lock Haven women's swim team.
 
Quick Starts Session: Saturday, October 12 (10:30 AM)
Quick Turns Session: Saturday, October 19 (9:30 AM)
Quick Open Turns Session: Saturday, November 2 (9:30 AM)
Doors open 30 minutes before start time. Please enter through the door closest to the Zimmerli "loop", off of Susquehanna Ave.