Westminster Sweeps Penn State-Behrend

The Westminster College men's and women's swimming and diving teams each posted nonconference dual meet wins over visiting Penn State Behrend Saturday. The Titan men won 163-125 and the Titan women won 149-100.

Westminster's men's team is now 4-1 in dual meets this year, while Behrend drops to 3-2-1. Westminster's women's team improves to 4-2 and Behrend's women fall to 1-6.

The Titan women's team set a new Westminster Natatorium record in the 400-yard medley relay as junior Sierra Beecher (Newville, Pa./Big Spring), senior Courtney Herdt (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls), junior Caitlin Lehberger (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) and freshman Carrie Whisel (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) combined for a first-place time of 4:04.95.

The Titan women won nine additional events before they swam exhibition times in the final five events once the victory was secured.

The Titan men had to count all of their events as Westminster won 10 events.

Multiple event winners for the Titans included Beecher capturing the 100 (1:03.26) and 200 (2:17.16) backstrokes and her exhibition time in the 200 IM (2:16.50) was faster than Behrend's first-place finisher.

Whisel won the 50 (25.70) and 100 (57.47) freestyles and senior diver Abby Gardner (Medina, Ohio/Medina) won the 1-meter (177.50) and 3-meter (165.05) dives with no opposition.

On the men's side, senior Mike Barringer (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) won the 50 (22.03) and 100 (48.21) freestyles as well as the 100 butterfly (51.85). Junior Mark Brooks (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) touched first in the 100 (54.00) and 200 (1:59.84) backstrokes.

Westminster is off until Jan. 11 when it travels to California for a triangular meet at Occidental with Lewis & Clark.