Red Flash Swimming Signs 4 to NLI
LORETTO, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2008) – The Saint Francis swim team has signed four swimmers to National Letters of Intent, as announced by head coach Pat Gallagher last week. Alicia Ford (Whitney Point, N.Y./Whitney Point), Erin Bieger (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North), Kathleen Lyon (King George, Va,/King George) and Kim Davis (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg-Salem) will join the Red Flash for the 2009-10 season.
“We are very excited about the talent and potential that this group processes. Our goals all revolve around the Northeast Conference Championship meet and eventually finishing on top of that event. All of these student athletes will make an immediate impact at the conference meet when they arrive next fall.”
Ford is an all-conference selection and two-year state qualifier out of Whitney Point High School in New York. She currently holds school records for the Golden Eagles in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle events, as well as the 100-yard backstroke. She was also a member of two record-breaking relay teams. Ford, who also competed in softball and basketball, is an honor roll student who has won the Principals Award, as well as Certificates of Merit.
Bieger, who will come to Loretto from Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., is a two-time letterwinner for the Bulldogs, and also won a letter at Mishiwaka Marian High School. Under the guidance of head coach Jim Sheridan, Columbus North took third place in the IHSA State Championships in 2007, and took sixth place in 2008. They were also the 2007 and 2008 Sectional Champions, as well as the 2007 and 2008 Conference Indiana Champions. Bieger, who competes in the breaststroke and distance freestyle events, was named Most Improved in 2007 and was a Republic All-Area Honorable Mention in 2008.
Lyon is a threat in several events, she holds team records in the 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. She also broke the district record in the 500-yard freestyle, taking third place in the state championships in the same event. In addition to the distance freestyle, she will also see time swimming the individual medley and butterfly events. A three-year letterwinner for the Foxes of King George High School, Lyon is also an honor roll student and a Coaches Award winner.
Davis is a 2008 AA WPIAL Champion in the 50-yard freestyle, and a four-year letterwinner for the Golden Lions of Greensburg-Salem High School. She took fourth place in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2008 PIAA Championships and was a member of a relay team that took fifth at nationals. Davis was a Tribune-Review Athlete of the Week in March 2008, and has competed in five national meets as a member of the Greensburg YMCA. She anchored the 200-yard medley relay for Greensburg Y that won the state title in 2008. Davis has been a national qualifier since the age of 14.
The Red Flash will host Mount St. Mary’s on December 6 at 2 p.m. at the Stokes Center. The Northeast Conference match up will be their first home meet of the season.