March 22, 2008

Whitbeck takes 10th in 100 free, earns 8th All-America

OXFORD, Ohio -- Grove City College junior sprinter Tim Whitbeck (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown) earned his eighth career NCAA All-America honor Saturday night by placing 10th in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.35 seconds. It is his first All-America citation in the 100 free.

Whitbeck posted a time of 45.55 in Saturday's preliminaries, which placed him 15th overall. In the consolation final, however, Whitbeck moved up five spots to second place in the race.

Kenyon's Josh Mitchell won the 100 free with a time of 44.37.

Thursday night, Whitbeck finished third in the 50 free with a time of 20.23. His 23 total points placed Grove City 28th in the overall team standings. Whitbeck also finished 30th in the 100 backstroke Friday with a time of 53.35.

Whitbeck is now the fourth-most decorated athlete in Grove City men's swimming and diving history with eight All-America honors. Caleb Courage, who will return to the program next season after a one-year sabbatical to train for the U.S. Olympic Trials, is an 11-time All-American. Rick Durstein '77 and Dave Tomashewski '78 are both nine-time All-Americans.

Whitbeck also matched the eight NCAA All-America honors earned by his older sister, Peggy, from 2001-04. Peggy Whitbeck won three national titles in the 200 butterfly and earned four All-America citations each in the 100 and 200 butterfly races. 

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