Nov. 24, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After claiming his first victory of the season on Friday in the three-meter diving event at the Bucknell Invitational, T.J. Schenkel (Richboro, Pa.) doubled his win total on Sunday, sweeping the invite's diving competitions with a victory in the one-meter event. Fellow Penn State diver Lucas Kachurick (McKeesport, Pa.) grabbed second place in the one-meter.
Kachurick and Schenkel qualified for the finals with the second and third highest scores respectively. Kachurick earned a score of 283.35, the best of his season in the event, while Schenkel followed, recording a mark of 272.25 in the prelims.
In the final, Schenkel had the best performance of his career for the second time over the weekend, posting a score of 309.35, besting his previous personal record of 301.05. The victory is the junior's second of the season and fourth of his career. Schenkel has now won the one-meter diving event twice in his Nittany Lion career.
Kachurick picked up a second place finish for the second time this weekend, narrowly being edged by Schenkel. Kachurick posted a score of 304.80 in the final, breaking the 300 point barrier for the first time as a member of the Blue and White.
After this weekend's competition, the divers won't return to competition until 2014, when the teams will travel to Naples, Fla. to take on the Florida Gators on January 4. The swimming team is set to compete in the Texas Invitational down in Austin, Texas from Dec. 5-7.