A 2013 Washington & Jefferson College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Kaitlyn (Orstein) Fife '08 joins the coaching staff at her alma mater for the 2015-16 season and will work with her father, longtime Presidents' mentor Mike Orstein. Fife was also a Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame inductee for Washington-Greene County Chapter in May, 2016, and a WPIAL Hall of Fame inductee in 2015.
After capturing her eighth NCAA Division III Championship, she cemented her name as one of the greatest student-athletes in the history of Washington & Jefferson College and NCAA Division III. A 25-time Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion, Orstein won multiple 200 individual medley (2005, 2007, 2008), 400 individual medley (2005, 2006) and 200 breaststroke (2007, 2008) national championships, while also claiming the 100 breaststroke national title in 2008. She established 18 W&J, 10 PAC records and five NCAA records.Â
The 14-time NCAA Division III All-American stayed as the national record holder in the 200 individual medley (2:00.27) for five years. Orstein was named the PAC Swimmer of the Year during all four years on the squad and she led the Presidents to the 2005 and 2008 PAC team championships, two of the eight in W&J history. Following her sophomore season, Orstein was invited to represent Team USA at the Maccabi International Games in Sydney, Australia and she represented the Red & Black on a worldwide stage by capturing five gold medals.Â
Orstein qualified to compete in the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif., in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. She was also selected as the 2004 Dapper Dan recipient of the female high school athlete of the year award. The male high school honoree was current Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker.Â
