Grove City College Swims Past Washington & Jefferson

Grove City College swept a Presidents’ Athletic Conference swimming and diving dual meet from Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday afternoon at the Henry Memorial Natatorium.

The ninth-ranked Wolverine men handed W&J (5-3, 2-1 PAC) its first PAC loss by a 156-137 count, while the GCC women ended the Presidents’ dual-meet win streak at 16 after recording a 162-138 victory.  The W&J women fell to 10-1 overall and 3-1 in the PAC.

The Presidents’ women were led by freshman Brittany Vogel (Butler, Pa./Butler), who claimed first place in three events.  She won the 200 freestyle (2:00.25), 200 backstroke (2:12.54) and 200 IM (2:14.34).

Freshman Michael Boutwell (Winchester, Va./John Handley) highlighted the men’s team with wins in the 500 (4:56.51) and 1,000 freestyle (10:08.22) events.  Classmate Benjamin Daggett (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) followed Boutwell as the runner-up during both races with times of 4:59.56 in the 500 freestyle and 10:21.01 in the 1,000 freestyle.

Freshman Justin Weifenbach (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) also claimed both diving events for the men’s squad, notching 218.50 points on the 1-meter board and 231.5 points on the 3-meter platform.  Sophomore Brandon Smith (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) rounded out the W&J men’s winners with a first-place touch in the 200 backstroke (1:59.44). 

First-year swimmer C.J. Corcoran (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) was a part of two wins for the W&J women after claiming the 100 breaststroke (1:10.17) and then leading the 200 medley relay (1:54.01) to a victory.  Senior Brittany Bertoli (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and freshmen Ellie Tecza (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley) and Katie Steider (Cochranton, Pa./Meadville) joined Corcoran on the winning relay. 

Bertoli, who was one of four Presidents celebrating Senior Day, then won the 200 butterfly (2:16.29), while Tecza notched a win in the 50 freestyle (25.72).

Seniors Alana Galvin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), Ryan Sayers (Frenchville, Pa./Clearfield) and Susanne Seward (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) were the other three seniors honored by the college this afternoon.

The Presidents continue their dual-meet schedule next Saturday when traveling to Erie, Pa., for a 1:00 pm matchup with Penn State-Behrend.