Oct. 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's swimming & diving team fell to Virginia Tech, 181.5-118.5, during the Nittany Lions' first home meet of the season on Saturday afternoon at the McCoy Natatorium.
During the competition, Penn State (0-2) captured eight events, including seven individual disciplines against Virginia Tech (2-0). Mitch Scherer (Pottstown, Pa.) and Brian Alden (Lansdale, Pa.) led the way with three victories apiece. The two standouts opened the meet by teaming up with Graham Risley (Riverside, Ill.) and Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.) to capture the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:31.37.
Scherer returned to the pool to win both breaststroke events as he claimed the top spot in the 100-yard discipline in 57.06 before taking the 200 in 2:04.96. Alden also looked sharp in the sprint freestyles as he cruised to the title in the 50-free with a time of 20.90 and the 100-free in 46.04.
Later in the meet, Alden joined forces with Shane Austin (Kennett Square, Pa.), Luke Bushman (Green Bay, Wis.), and James Wilson (Nottingham, Pa.) to post a second-place showing in the 400-freestyle relay. Together, the foursome completed the course in 3:05.84.
In other events, Matt Salig (Downingtown, Pa.) won the 200-butterfly after touching the wall first in 1:50.27, while Jeff Gomez (Morristown, N.J.) captured the 200-back after clocking in at 1:50.60. Scott Marino (Scotch Plains, N.J.) rounded out the individual victors after winning the 200-IM in 1:52.87.
Bushman also had a strong day in the pool for Penn State. Prior to helping the 400-freestyle relay team place second, he was Lions' top finisher in the 200-freestyle after finishing as the runner-up with a time of 1:41.87. In addition to that, he placed third in the 200-butterfly (1:50.63) and the 500-freestyle (4:37.41).
Penn State will take some time off before heading to Charlottesville, Virginia for a two-day tri-meet against Virginia and Indiana on November 19-20. The meet will start at 6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday.