January 28, 2016
Bilko, divers lead Grove City past Titans
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Senior Megan Bilko (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) won three individual events and the Wolverine divers swept the top three spots on both boards as the Grove City College women's swimming and diving team rallied to defeat archrival Westminster 154-146 in Presidents' Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening at the Westminster Natatorium.
In a meet that featured seven lead-changes, Grove City (6-3-1, 3-0 PAC) would claim the lead for good after sweeping the 1-meter diving competition, and the Wolverine quartet of Bilko, junior Molly Gallant (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), junior Megan Smith (Tyler, Texas/Kolbe Academy) and junior Abby Jank (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) clinched the team victory with a commanding win of more than five seconds in the meet-closing 400 free relay (3:44.87).
Bilko opened the meet with a win in the 1000 free in 10 minutes, 36.14 seconds while Smith posted a time of 10:57.17 for a 1-2 Wolverine finish. Bilko would turn around and complete the back-to-back with a winning time of 1:58.06 in the 200 free before later winning the 500 free in 5:19.24.
Senior Carolyn Eckendorf (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) earned victories on both boards, taking the 3-meter competition with a score of 213.90 before posting a score of 211.35 to win on the 1-meter. Sophomore Bri Darnell (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) edged junior Grace Klimek (Oakdale, Pa./South Fayette) 198.70-197.50 as the two finished second and third on the one-meter board while Klimek (177.95) took second on the 3-meter board and Darnell finished third (151.00) in her first time competing the event.
Freshman Megan Crutcher (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) earned an individual victory in the 100 breast in 1:08.70 while Gallant took the 50 for the third-straight meet with a time of 25.07. Smith earned Grove City's remaining individual win on the night with a victorious time of 2:30.42 in the 200 breast.
Junior Amanda Hutzelmann (Milford, Pa./Homeschooled) finish second in both the 100 fly (1:00.39) and the 200 fly (2:13.15) while Jank was second the 100 free (56.52). Crutcher added a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (2:18.14).
Grove City closes its regular season on Saturday, visiting Bethany for a 1 p.m. conference meet.
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