Gruber exits pool a champ
PITTSBURGH — Maggie Gruber dove into the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool Thursday with a goal of becoming a WPIAL champion.
She came out of it with a whole lot more.
The Mars sophomore captured the Class AA girls 100-yard butterfly title, but her time of 54.63 seconds distinguishes her from past champions.
The effort obliterated the previous WPIAL record of 55.72, set last year by Greensburg Central Catholic's Andrea Marko.
It also snaps Gruber's previous school record and is certain to make her the top seed at the state meet later this month.
“I've known Maggie since she was just a few feet high,” said Mars coach Heidi Brandon. “To see what she was able to do today, it's just incredible.”
Gruber already had a state title under her belt from last season, but she took her first WPIAL crown Thursday.
As a freshman in 2010, Gruber swam the butterfly in 56.7 at WPIALs, good for second place behind Marko.
Gruber began Thursday's action by swimming the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay. She and Planets teammates Caroline Pacey, Jocelyn Lemay and Amanda Alikhani had a strong showing and placed sixth.
“I'm glad to be swimming in the medley relay because it loosens me up,” said Gruber.
But more than 90 minutes passed between the relay and her appearance in the butterfly, and as Gruber admits, “when I hit the pool, I was edgy. I was very nervous.”
Her performance didn't reflect it, however. West Allegheny's Kellie Gervas was a distant second, more than 4½ seconds behind Gruber.
“I didn't see how big of a lead I had on the turns because I don't pay attention to the other swimmers,” said Gruber.
“She is really able to just block everything out,” said Brandon.
Gruber is seeded first in today's 100 backstroke.
• Penn Township resident and Shady Side Academy senior Anne Marie Bilott won the 200 individual medley (2:08.23) and helped the Indians' 200 medley team place first.Oakland Township resident Hillary Cummings also aided the medley relay and swam a leg on the 200 freestyle relay, which earned a spot at states with a third-place finish.It was the second straight year that Cummings and Bilott helped their team win the medley relay title.“It was important for us to win it today because West Allegheny is one of the teams we're battling with for the team title,” said Bilott.• Knoch senior Kristy Daubner placed fifth in the 50 freestyle at 24.97 seconds. She entered the event seeded 12th, shaved 1.15 seconds off her seed time and has a strong chance of getting to the state meet.<B>Class AAA Girls</B>Seneca Valley's Makena Lynch placed sixth in the 50 freestyle (24.29) and helped the Raiders' 200 freestyle relay team to a medal at eighth place (1:39.9).The quartet also included Stephanie Ciraula, Alicia Zilka and Katie Miller.
