Swimming and Diving Weekend Round-Up
The Penn State Behrend swimming teams made the short trip to Grove City this weekend to participate in the Grove City Invitational. Both the men's and women's teams had strong showings with the women finishing fifth out of eleven teams with 307 points and the men finishing fourth out of eleven teams with 347 points. The men's fourth placed position was the highest finish ever recorded by the team at the event. Both teams were the top AMCC squad in the event.
A number of team records were also broken this weekend. All in all there were ten new records set by the women's team, seven in individual events and three in relays. The new female record holders are Cyndi Morales (Mexico City/Universidad del Valle de Mexico), Missy Pilewski (Cranesville/Villa Maria High School), Whitney Marshall (Hummelstown/Hershey High School), and Brittany Yost (Pottsville/Pottsville High School). Morales set new marks in the 500, 1650, and 1000 yard freestyle, Pilewski in the 200 and 100 yard breaststroke, and Marshall in the 200 yard freestyle and 200 yard butterfly. All four swimmers were members of 400 yard medley, 200 yard medley, and 400 yard freestyle relay teams.
The men's team set five new records, three in individual events and two in relays. Anthony Spoto (Birmingham,MI/Birmingham Seaholm High School) is the new team record holder in the 100 yard freestyle as are Dustin Fairchild (Corry/Corry High School) in the 200 yard freestyle and in the 500 yard freestyle. The relay team of Dustin Fairchild, Matt Seiferth (Allison Park/Hampton High School), Steve Schleicher (Erie/ McDowell High School), and Brandon Thiel set a new mark in the 800 yard freestyle relay. Finally, the team of Spoto, Fairchild, Thiel, and Seiferth established a new team record in the 400 yard freestyle.
Coach Slack was pleased with the performances of both teams. "Finishing in fourth and fifth positions in this event was a great result. It was also satisfying to be the top AMCC school. It was a good way to end to the season." Cyndi Morales now has the ECAC Championships to look forward to. ECAC's will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from February 24 - 27.