Penn State Behrend Swimming and Diving Capture 2010 AMCC Championship

The Penn State Behrend Lions men's and women's swimming and diving teams dominated the AMCC field at the conference championships on Saturday, February 20, en route to the 2010 league titles.  The championships were held at Grove City College, from February 17-20.

This marked the fourth consecutive men's and women's conference crown for Coach Jen Wallace's Behrend Lions.

Final scores for the men were as follows Penn State Behrend (385), Penn State Altoona (148), Pitt-Bradford (130), and Frostburg State (108).  Final scores for the women were Penn State Behrend (336), Penn State Altoona (152), Frostburg State (130), Pitt-Bradford (114).

The 200 yard freestyle went to the Behrend Lions team of Katie Van Epps (Pleasantville/Titusville), Hilary MacManus (Beaver Falls/Blackhawk), Julie Cook (Warren/Warren) and Danielle Wilson (Pittsburgh/Plum) at a finishing time of 1:44.62.  Van Epps would follow that performance up with more first place finishes in the 400 yard medley relay and the 400 yard individual medley with a time of 4:56.23.  Van Epps was not done as she took first in the 400 yard freestyle relay as well as the 800 yard freestyle relay.  MacManus would take first in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 59.11 to go along with a first in the 400 yard freestyle relay. 

Anne Lawrence (State College/State College), Meghan Stefanko (Elizabeth/Elizabeth Forward) and Brittany Tanilli (Gibsonia/Deer Lakes) would all add great performances throughout the championships and have been consistent all year long for Coach Wallace.  Lawrence would take first in the 200 yard inividual medley with a time of 2:15.80 and the 100 and 200 yard butterfly with times of 1:00.60 and 2:17.51, respectively.  Stefanko would place first in the 100 and 200 yard backstroke with a time of 1:01.91 in the 100 and 2:16.38 in the 200.  Tanilli would show up big for the blue and white in her first experience at the AMCC Championships.  She took first in both the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke with times of 1:12.68 and 2:39.96.

Krystal Kovach (Scott Twp./Chartiers Valley) is heading back to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year in the 1 meter and 3 meter diving events.  Kovach recorded a mark of 416.90 in the 1 meter and 453.60 in the 3 meter.  After setting an invitational and pool record in 1 meter diving, she was honored as the Invitational Women's Diver of the Year. In addition, Behrend diving coach Gordie Schmidt was selected as the Women's Diving Coach of the Year.

The Penn State Behrend Lions Swimming and Diving teams recorded their highest point total ever in this year's championships and will look to compete for a fifth consecutive title next season.  

Complete results here:
http://www.gccinvitational.com/Events/index.htm

Next up for the Behrend Lions swimming and diving teams will be the ECAC Championships that are set to be held on February 26, through February 28, 2010.  The NCAA Championships will follow with those on Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18.