W&J Swimming & Diving Claims GCC Invitational Title
GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Washington and Jefferson College women’s swimming & diving team won its first Grove City Winter Invitational title since the 2007-08 season on Saturday evening.
The Presidents ran away with the championship in the two-day event with 1,227 points. Misericordia was second (976) followed by East Stroudsburg (707), Grove City (484), Hiram (233), Franciscan (102) and Malone (48).
Misericordia claimed the men’s championship with 950 points, while Grove City (729) took second and W&J (649) third. Malone (401), Hiram (208) and Davis & Elkins (133) closed the standings.
W&J swimmers won 10 events on Saturday, including senior diver Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) and freshman Sara Boldt (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood), who finished the weekend as double individual winners. Haver captured the 1-meter diving title with 245.50 points, while Boldt swam to the 1650 freestyle championship in a time of 18:32:12.
The men’s squad was paced by two Saturday triumphs from senior Jonathan Weeks (Donora, Pa./Ringgold). Weeks touched first in the 100 freestyle (48.38) and 200 butterfly (2:02.84) events, while also leading the 800 freestyle relay (7:24.30) to a runner-up finish. Seniors Andy Rish (North East, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Michael Boutwell (Winchester, Va./John Handley) and freshman Jake Meyers (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) joined Weeks on the relay.
Boutwell also won the 1650 freestyle (17:58.80) and placed second in the 400 IM (4:37.66). Senior Justin Weifenbach (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) was the 3-meter diving champion (250.25), while Rish earned a runner-up finish in the 200 backstroke (2:01.24).
For the women, junior Katlin Dagg (Mentor, Ohio/Hawken) touched first in the 200 butterfly (2:12.78) and also anchored the winning 800 freestyle relay (8:08.20). Seniors Brittany Vogel (Butler, Pa./Butler) and Jami Andrews (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and freshman Jessica Sweitzer (Laurel, Md./Seton Keough) swam on the relay.
Andrews was victorious in the 400 IM (4:55.94), while Sweitzer was a part of her third win of the weekend after claiming the 200 freestyle (1:58.93).
Senior C.J. Corcoran (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) also grabbed two second-place showings in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.80) and 100 freestyle (54.76).
W&J returns to the pool after the holiday break versus Saint Vincent on January 7th.
