Cathy Sipka is just the third women's swimmer to be inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Sipka was a seven-time All-American for the Penguins as a member of various relay squads in the mid-1980s when the Penguins were a Division II power.
During her career, she set three individual school records in the distance events. She set the school standard in the 500-yard freestyle in March 1984 and the 1,000-yard freestyle in January 1984. She set the school standard in the 1,650-yard freestyle in February 1986. She held the 500 record for 25 years, the 1,000 record for 22 years and the 1,650 record for 19 years. The records in the relay events remained for 25 years in the 800 free, 24 years in the 400 free and 21 years in the 200 free.
In 1983 as a freshman, she was part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. YSU placed 14th out of 35 schools, scoring 63 points in the team competition.
In 1984, she was part of the of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that finished fourth and the 400-yard freestyle relay team that placed fifth. YSU placed 11th by scoring 81 points at the NCAA Championships.
In 1985, she was a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that placed seventh. The Guins placed 20th, scoring a total of 58 points. Prior to the NCAA meet, she was part of the group that set the Penn-Ohio Conference Championship record in the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays.
In 1986, she was again part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that was seventh while the 800-yard freestyle relay team that placed eighth. YSU placed 15th at the NCAA meet, scoring 85.5 points.
Sipka served as a team captain her final three years.
Upon her graduation, she became the first female student-athlete in YSU history to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarships were awarded to student-athletes who had a grade-point average above 3.00 and performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team
She earned her degree from YSU in Food and Nutrition.
Sipka is a swimming instructor, lifeguard and swimming coach for the Akron General Health Partners-Akron General Health and Wellness Center in Stow, Ohio.
She is a graduate of Tallmadge High School where she was an all-state swimmer. In her career, she had four top-10 finishes and was a two-time district champion and runner-up.
Cathy is married to former YSU football player Mike Spicer. The couple has been married for 21 years. They reside in Kent and have three boys – Justin, Corey and Nicholas.
