Midway through the swimming season, Peggy Whitbeck's times were up - and so was her stress level.

But Whitbeck, a Grove City College senior swimmer, decided not to sweat it.

She took a step back from the whirlwind her life in and out of the pool had become, took a deep breath and forged on with a different, more laid-back attitude.

"I didn't have fast times," Whitbeck said. "I really wasn't feeling like I was in the groove in the butterfly. I was just off.

"But one day I realized I had to just enjoy my last year. It was definitely better to live in God's grace," she added.

Whitbeck had a lot bouncing around in her head: an impending marriage in May, wrapping up her music education degree in the same month, and, oh yeah, defending her two-year reign as the fastest swimmer in the 200-yard butterfly in Division III of the NCAA.

"There's always a lot on my plate," Whitbeck said. "I'm pretty good at it."

But not so good this time. Her legacy and reputation were catching up with her.

Whitbeck won the Division III national title in the 200 butterfly during her sophomore and junior seasons and was feeling the pressure to repeat in her final go-round.

She entered her senior year with the Division III national record time in the 200 butterfly at 2 minutes, 1.84 seconds. Her times were nowhere near that mark this season.

"She had so much to get accomplished academically and in her life," said Grove City College women's swimming coach Cathy Jacobs. "She wasn't where she was at this time last year."

But Whitbeck snapped back into form over the last few weeks of the season. Her crowning moment came March 13 at the NCAA Division III championships in St. Peters, Mo., as she stormed past old nemesis Vanessa Williamson of Bates College over the final 100 yards in the butterfly to win her third consecutive national championship.

Her time of 2:02.86 was her fastest of the season, a full second better than Williams' mark.

Whitbeck's reaction after her third national title was markedly different than following her first.

As a sophomore, Whitbeck did her best Olympic fist pump as she poked her torso out of the pool. This time, she merely climbed out of the water with a satisfied smile on her face.

"It's amazing how much different I think about it now," Whitbeck said. "It's amazing how much things have changed for me in the last two years. After that first one, I was in shock. This last one was definitely different. It was, 'Oh, I won.' It was more of a feeling of relief."

Whitbeck finally felt she could move on.

She had Olympic dreams at one time, but decided not to pursue them. Her times were simply not up to Olympic standards.

She can close the book on the swimming part of her life now, despite the questions from friends, professors and even total strangers that still lurk around every hello.

"People are asking me about the Olympic trials, my wedding, if I have a job yet," Whitbeck said. "I'm just trying to get my paper done that is due tomorrow."

Whitbeck said she would probably stay involved in the sport in some way in the future.

For now, she is ready to reflect on what she has accomplished.

The accomplishments are many. In addition to her three national titles, Whitbeck is an eight-time All-American in both the 200 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.

"I'm ready to be done," Whitbeck said.

Her legacy at Grove City College won't be done in the near future.

Jacobs sees Whitbeck's career as the ultimate recruiting tool.

When Whitbeck came to Grove City College after committing to Indiana (Pa.) University, then changing her mind at the last minute, her best time in the 200 butterfly was 2:12.

"When a student-athlete comes and says, 'I only swim a 2:12 in the butterfly,' I can say, "Our three-time national champion came in at 2:12,'" Jacobs said. "She sets the bar high, and maybe they will think, 'If she can do it, I can do it too.'"

What probably won't be erased any time soon are the marks Whitbeck will leave in the Grove City College record books, as well as outside of it.

"She has put a mark at this school that," Jacobs says, pausing to recall every last Whitbeck achievement, "Wow - will stand for a long, long time."