By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern
The Grove City women and Westminster men go home champions at the end of the 4 day Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
Grove City Senior Megan Bilko gained crucial points for her team and ensured her sweep in her individual events, with a dominant win in the women’s 1650, finishing the swim in 17:30.91. Anne Tillie of Westminster was second in 17:59.02. Sarah Blodgett of Grove City was third in 18:27.29.
Alex Bolen of Saint Vincent claimed the men’s mile, with a time of 16:36.54. Griffin Nincke of Westminster was second in 16:41.67. Matt Crum of Saint Vincent was third in 16:53.16.
Saint Vincent’s Cassaundra Trudel won the women’s 200 back, finishing in 2:11.51. Alexis Glenn of Washington and Jefferson College was second in 2:12.40. In third, Cassandra Kovacicek hit the wall in 2:12.67.
David Peffer of Westminster claimed the victory in the men’s 200 back, clocking a 1:52.27. Cheyne Stresky of Bethany followed in 1:54.08. Mark Patterson of Penn State Behrend was third in 1:54.73.
Aureli Sheehan of Chatham won the 100 free with a speedy time of 52.72. Marissa Frollo of Saint Vincent was second in 53.09, while teammate Ciara Lewis of Saint Vincent was third in 53.79.
On the men’s side, Mitch Stahara of Westminster was a dominant first with a time of 45.93. Jacob Davis was second in 46.38, while Matt Tashima was third in 47.68.
Megan Smith of Grove City won the women’s 200 breast, clocking a 2:25.41. Samantha Tower of Westminster was second in 2:27.42. Her teammate Sara Peace was a close third in 2:27.95
Matthew Baurle of Westminster followed up his meet record in the men’s 200 breast, claiming gold with a time just off his morning swim, clocking a 2:02.18. Kevin Dunigan of Washington and Jefferson was second in 2:06.12, while Adam Smale was third in 2:10.48.
In the 200 fly, Megan Douds of Westminster claimed the gold, swimming a time of 2:07.71. Ama Hutzelmann of Grove City was second with a 2:08.78, while Katherine Guevara was third in 2:12.30.
In the final individual event of the night, Jeremy Kim of Grove City won the men’s 200 fly with a time of 1:54.38. Nick Roth of Penn State Behrend was a close second in 1:54.45, while Brad Kolesar of Westminster was third in 1:55.32.
On the diving side, Chatham Senior Ale Rectenwald won the women’s 3-meter dive, posting a point total of 492.40. Teammate Emily Hinson followed with 443.85 points. Caroline Eckendorf of Grove City claimed the bronze with 411.55 points.
For the men’s 1-meter, Washington and Jefferson College swept the podium with Junior Josh Vasko leading the way, winning the event with 450.35 points. His freshman teammates Isaac Penascino and Jordan Hosfelt were second and third respectively with 382.95 and 318.35 points.
In the final event of the meet, Saint Vincent put together a winning relay with the team of Hannah Barkey (54.26) Kelly Kramer (54.37) Marissa Frollo (52.57) and Ciara Lewis (53.41) won the 400 free relay in 3:34.61. Grove City followed in 3:37.73, while Washington and Jefferson was third in 3:38.39.
Westminster claimed the men’s title in the 400 free relay with the team of Spencer (47.86) Daniel Bogen (47.83) Peffer (47.84) and Stahara (45.37) putting together the top time of 3:08.90. Saint Vincent claimed the silver in 3:09.60, while Grove City was third in 3:12.29.
Isn’t/wasm’t Grove City College the school that many moons ago the school that brought the suit against the NCAA that resulted in that Title IX Supreme Court ruling that resulted in equal funding for women’s sports?
Pretty sure it’s same school.