From the beginning of her swimming career to the end,
Lynn Janke ’82 was all about improving herself and her team in the quest for success. The Lansdale, Pa., native took a lead role on the women’s swimming team from the start, guiding the team to its first Middle Atlantic Conference title while setting school records in six different events. She qualified for the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Division III Championships for the first time.
“What I remember about Lynn is she brought it every day to practice,” said former head swimming coach George Kennedy. “No messing around. Let’s get after it and bring it to practice each day and her meet swims were products of that hard work.”
Janke continued her dominance in the pool in 1979-80 as Gettysburg wrapped up another conference title. She won both the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle at the MAC meet, setting a new program record in the latter. She held the team’s top times in nearly every event she swam and once again competed in the national championships.
A new coach and new teammates helped Janke continue to raise the bar as a junior. She earned her first national awards in 1981, helping the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay finish among the top eight in the country. Gettysburg also wrapped up another MAC team title.
The 1981-82 season proved to be one of the greatest in program history for Janke and the Bullets. After guiding Gettysburg to a fourth-straight conference crown on the strength of five top-three finishes, the senior took home All-America accolades in four relays. Janke’s best race came in the 50 free where she improved 25 spots from her freshman season to finish fifth, which remains the best finish by a Gettysburg women’s swimmer in the 50 free to this day. The Bullets also placed fifth as a team at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Janke graduated with a degree in health and physical education and married former Bullet swimmer Brian Smith ’81. She will join five other inductees in this year’s class of the Hall of Athletic Honor which will hold its induction ceremony this Friday, Sept. 30, inside the College Union Building Ballroom.
“Lynn Janke deserves to be in the Hall of Honor because she was a great swimmer,” said Kennedy. “She was one of the best swimmers in the conference and she proved she was one of the best swimmers in the 50-yard freestyle in the country.”
