March 13, 2008

Whitbeck seeks 2nd straight national title

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Junior sprinter Tim Whitbeck (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown) will represent Grove City College at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships March 20-22 at Miami University of Ohio's Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio. It is Whitbeck's third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships.

Whitbeck is the defending NCAA Division III champion in the 50 freestyle and is a six-time NCAA All-American. He will compete in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke at this year's Championships.

This season, Whitbeck enters the Championships as the top seed in the 50 with a season-best time of 20.37 seconds. He is also seeded fourth in the 100 free with a time of 45.31 seconds. Whitbeck will also compete in the 100 backstroke. He is seeded 22nd with a time of 52.39 seconds.

Whitbeck will compete in the 50 free Thursday, March 20. The 100 backstroke is scheduled for the 21st while the 100 free will be held on Saturday, March 22. He is aiming to become the third Grove City athlete to earn multiple national championships. Diver Chris Van De Mark won both the 1- and 3-meter NCAA diving titles in 1981, then repeated as 1-meter champion in 1982. Caleb Courage won the NCAA title in the 100 free in both 2006 and 2007.

Whitbeck previously earned All-America honors in the 200 and 400 free relays in both 2006 and 2007. He also earned NCAA All-America status in the 400 medley relay in 2006.

During the 2007-08 regular season, Whitbeck helped Grove City to an 11-3 dual-meet record and the program's first Presidents' Athletic Conference championship since 2004. Whitbeck earned the conference's Most Valuable Performer award after winning the 50 free, 100 free and 100 backstroke at the Grove City Invitational/PAC Championships Feb. 14-16.

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