By Garrett Gess · Staff Writer
Wolverine swimming and diving is underway at Grove City College. The men’s and women’s teams competed at the Webster Fall Classic Oct. 16 and at John Carroll Saturday.
For the men, Grove City faced tough non-conference competition, losing to the Blue Streaks. Sophomore George Witte won the 50 free and Lucas McCreadie won 1-meter diving in his collegiate diving debut. Witte also finished second in the 200 free and 200 backstroke. Senior Andrew Buxbaum finished second in the 200 breaststroke.
The Grove City men’s team still has a lot to look forward to this season. It has won eight straight conference championships under head coach Dave Fritz, who enters his 25th season leading the program.
Senior Owen Hancock returns for one more season after winning PAC Swimmer of the Year honors last season. Hancock captured three individual conference titles and helped the Wolverines win four relay championships. His individual victories came in the 200-yard individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, also establishing conference records in all three events.
Grove City has five swimmers on the PAC Swimmers and Divers to Watch list: seniors Buxbaum, Hancock, CJ Mayhew and Bryce Pope, along with Witte. All five earned first-team All-PAC recognition last season.
The women’s team nearly took down John Carroll on Saturday, losing in a close meet. Four Wolverine swimmers and divers combined to win six individual events. Sophomore Chaeli Keenan swept the diving events. Freshman Claire Pecora won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 freestyle.
Sophomore Mollie Massella captured the 200 butterfly, while sophomore Abigail Vance won the 200 breaststroke. In the 200-freestyle relay, Pecora, sophomore Mary Anne Altman, junior Ellie Webster and sophomore Abby Tweed emerged victorious.
The women’s team has the core to have another successful year after securing its seventh consecutive conference title and its 17th championship in the last 18 years. As a freshman last season, Vance won PAC Swimmer of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. She captured three individual conference titles by winning the 200-yard individual medley, the 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke.
“My goal this season is to continue improving my times and challenging myself to become a better swimmer. I want to continue to work hard at every practice, be intentional about my training and push myself to get better even when it gets hard,” Vance said. “Having my sister, Addison, on the team is really special to me, and I credit her with pushing me to become a better swimmer.
“I hope I can encourage my teammates in that same way and help create a positive environment where we can push each other while also having fun and making the most of the season together. At the end of the season, I hope I can look back knowing that I gave my best effort and continued to challenge myself every day.”
Keenan won the PAC Diver of the Year honor last season, sweeping both diving events at the conference championships. Both of her scores met NCAA regional qualifying standards. Tweed returns after winning three individual PAC championship events last season. Keenan, junior Freja Kile, Massella, Tweed and Vance were named to the PAC Swimmers and Divers to Watch list for this season after also earning first-team All-PAC recognition last season.
Favored to win both the men’s and women’s PAC titles, the Wolverines will compete at Saint Vincent next Friday at 6 p.m. in their first conference dual meet of the season.
“One of the biggest keys to our success is having a positive team culture where everyone supports and pushes each other to be better. Swimming can be an individual sport, but our success as a team depends on everyone working together and encouraging one another,” Vance said. “I think it’s important that we are intentional about our training, hold each other accountable and celebrate each other’s successes. At the same time, I think it’s important to have fun with the sport and enjoy the time we spend together.”
