The Grove City High boys 200 freestyle relay team had a state record in its sights heading into the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday night.

The team of Marcus Swartfager, Rockwell Pokrant, Devin Reynolds and Will Rastatter cut nearly a second of their best time to capture a Class AA state title and state record at Bucknell University.

The quartet logged a time of 1 minute, 24.77 seconds to break the previous state mark of 1:24.97.

“That was the plan after districts, to get that state record,” said Grove City swimming coach Karen Wendelschaefer.

When Rastatter touched the wall and they saw their time, they erupted.

“They were beside themselves,” Wendelschaefer said. “They were screaming. They really wanted to take down that record.”

The Eagles came in seeded first with a time of 1:25.64. They trimmed that mark by nearly a second to break the mark that stood since 2009.

It was the biggest highlight of many for Grove City Thursday.

The Eagles’ relay team of Ben McKnight, Charlie Nesbit, Rastatter and Reynolds placed fifth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:38.16.

Pokrant finished sixth in the 100 butterfly with a time of 50.65 seconds and was also eighth in the 200 individual medley (1:57.46).

Swartfager with fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.14) and Rastatter was sixth in the same event (21.25).

The Grove City boys are in first place in the team standings heading into today.

The Eagles have 122 points and Cathedral Prep is second with 106 points.

“It would mean a lot to be able to win the state title,” Wendelschaefer said.

Knoch’s John Wilson was fifth in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:56.65.

The Grove City girls also had a strong showing and are second in the team standings, trailing Villa Maria.

Emma Wilson placed second in the 50 freestyle (23.79). She was also on the 200 medley relay team with Nancy Wise, Amanda Kengor, Emma Rastatter that placed fourth with a time of 1:48.26.

The Eagles’ 200 freestyle relay team of Rastatter, Jenny Baglia, Robin Reynolds and Wilson also placed fourth (1:37.78).

Girls Basketball

Sam Breen scored 26 points and also had 12 rebounds as Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic rolled to a 59-29 win over Punxsutawney in the PIAA 4A playoffs.

The Trojanettes (24-2) led 27-13 at the half and 50-22 after three quarters.

Tess Myers added 12 points for North Catholic, which will play District 10 champion Villa Maria Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

Boys Basketball

Zach Offi hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first overtime as Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic moved on in the PIAA 3A playoffs with a 48-45 win over Shady Side Academy.

The Trojans will play District 6 champion Central Cambria in the quarterfinals Saturday at a site and time to be determined.