Liberty senior Samantha Taylor signed a letter of intent last month to continue her academic and athletic swimming career at Shippensburg University.

“I did a lot of day visits and open houses at 12 or 13 different schools and then I narrowed it down and did official overnights at four schools, but Shippensburg was definitely, as soon as I was there, I knew it was going to be my final choice because I loved it,” Taylor said.

Shippensburg’s swim team is coached by Tim Verge, who has been the head coach for his alma mater for 21 seasons.

Taylor and her mother met with Verge for two hours on their first visit.

“He answered all my questions and he was every informative, and when I went back for my overnight, we met with him again,” Taylor said.

“You get a feel for the team culture and what the people are like and that was a big thing for me. I gelled really well with the girls who were there and even with the people on the guy’s team.”

Taylor is planning to major in chemistry with a concentration in biochem.

“Because their department is one of the smaller ones, their advisees all know them and it’s a really close-knit department so someone’s always there if you need help with something,” she said.

Taylor is a four-year swimmer with the Liberty Hurricanes and is a captain this year. Two of her main swimming events are the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM, in addition to relays. Earlier this month, Taylor won the 200 IM in the Hurricanes’ meet against Emmaus and placed second in the Hurricanes’ meet against Parkland.