HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata women's swim team will close the season looking for a strong finish amongst Landmark competitors this weekend at the Landmark Conference Championships.

"Our team has been swimming well," head coach Nathan Smith said. "We have had a lot of swimmers swimming better than they ever have before, and going into the Landmark Championship, we are going to see a lot faster times because they are fully rested for this week." 

Freshman Jocelyn Skelly (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey High School) has seen success in the pool throughout the season, earning a second place spot in Juniata's all-time record book for the 100-yard butterfly.  Smith is happy with how Skelly and her fellow freshmen teammates have been competing and expects to see improvement this weekend. 

"Our freshmen have been swimming very well," Smith said. "They have been progressing each meet and swimming faster times. Francesca Ferguson (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area HS) and Jocelyn Skelly are both set up to swim very fast times.  Jocelyn is right up toward the top of the conference in the 100-yard butterfly so she has a good chance to make the All-Landmark team." 

Senior Tzvia Cahn (San Jose / Kehilia Jewish) saw season best times in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle this season and has high hopes for her team as they enter the Landmark Championships. 

"We have all put a lot of hard work in this season, and we are excited to see that hard work pay off," Cahn said. "I am confident that a lot of girls will drop time and have some awesome races this weekend." 

Fellow senior Christine Whiteman (Delmont, Pa. / Franklin Regional) agrees that she thinks the team's hard work will reap the benefits this weekend. 

"It has been awesome this year to see steady growth all season," Whiteman said. "We have had girls get best times at every meet, and I expect to see the same thing at Landmarks. We have spent a lot of time in the last few weeks setting and revisiting our individual and team goals, and I think it has helped everyone focus and tune into what we need to do to have a great meet." 

In addition to their contributions in the pool, Smith has been impressed with the leadership roles the seniors have taken on this year. 

"Our seniors have been great this year," Smith said. "They do a good job of leading by example and by helping our younger swimmers adjust to the differences between college swimming and high school or club swimming. All four of them do a great job of leading." 

The Eagles have spent the season rising to faster times and will come together this weekend with hopes of reaching success.

The meet will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 at the Germantown Swim Center in Germantown, Md. and will continue into Sunday.