(CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 12) – The McKendree University swimming and diving program began the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championships on Wednesday at the Crawfordsville Aquatic Center. The Bearcats set new conference records in the 50 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, and 200 medley relay.
 
After the first day, the men sit in third place with 265.5 points, 7.5 points out of first place, where Drury holds the top spot. The women hold fifth place with 154 points, 225 points behind first place Drury.
 
Sophomore Gregg Lichinsky (West Des Moines, IA/West Des Moines Valley High School) set the tone for the meet, opening with a 19.73 in the prelims of the 50 freestyle, a new GLVC record and NCAA A cut. The record was previously held by teammate, Alexander Skinner (Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School) Lichinsky turned around and finished with a 19.75 to capture gold in the finals.
 
Three other Bearcats swam in the A final of the 50 freestyle. Senior Matija Pucarevic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sixth Belgrade Grammar School) captured bronze with a time of 20.18. Skinner took fourth place with 20.19 and freshman Caleb Law (Anchorage, AK/Robert Service High School) tied for fifth with 20.28.
 
For the women, senior Milica Sostarec (Subotica, Serbia/Medical High School) took fourth place in the A final, turning in a time of 23.41. Sophomore Abigail Rumpp (Knoxville, TN/L&N STEM Academy) and senior Sydney Rey (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) took fourth and fifth in the B final, finishing with 23.95 and 24.01, respectively.
 
Freshman Fabio Dalu (Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari) lit up the 1000 freestyle, setting a new GLVC record and a new top time in Division-II. Dalu posted an 8:58.36 to win gold, breaking the record by 11 seconds. Junior Throstur Bjarnason (Reykjanesbær, Iceland/Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurnesja) took 13^th place with a time of 9:22.83. Sophomore Hallie Dixon (Jeffersonville, IN/Jeffersonville High School) placed 12^th with a time of 10:27.39.
 
In the 200 IM, junior Molly Smalley (Windhoek, Namibia/Plymouth College) competed in the B final, taking eighth place with a time of 2:09.90. Freshman Davante Carey (Nassau, Bahamas/Queens College) took sixth in the B final, turning in a time of 1:51.66.
 
The women's 200 medley relay team of Rey, freshman Grace Credit (La Grange Highlands, IL/Lyons Township High School), senior Meredith Geyer (Germantown, TN/Germantown High School), and Sostarec placed sixth with a time of 1:45.38.
 
The men's relay team of Carey, freshman John Heaphy (Eagle River, AK/Eagle River High School), Lichinsky, and Skinner set a new GLVC record with a time of 1:26.31.
 
Thursday's events include: 200 freestyle relay, 400 IM, 100 buttefly, 200 freestyle, 400 medley relay, women's three-meter diving, and men's one-meter diving.