Oct. 22, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's swimming & diving team cruised to a 137-96 victory over West Virginia during the Nittany Lions' first action of the season on Saturday afternoon at the McCoy Natatorium.
The Nittany Lions won 10 of 13 events, including one relay event. Sophomore Gabi Shishkoff (Franklin, Mass.) won and crushed her personal best in the 1000 yard freestyle. Junior Amy Modglin (Fort Myers, Fla.) was also a winner in the 400-yard IM event and the 200 backstroke.
In the 200 medley relay event, junior Paige Whitmire (Lederach, Pa.), senior Sam Palser (Chester Springs, Pa.), sophomore Rachel Butler (Lancaster, Pa.) and sophomore Mackenzie Powers (Sycamore, Ill.) took first place, clocking a time of 1:42.74 to earn 11 points for the Nittany Lions.
Shishkoff earned the title in 1000-yard freestyle as she earned a time of 10:17.02. Sophomore Claire Singley (Southlake, Texas) timed in right behind her at 10:19.35. Shishkoff's previous personal record in the event was 10:32.54, beating it by nearly 15 seconds. Senior Katie Pulos (Rosemont, Pa.) earned the title in the 200-yard freestyle, scoring a time of 1:51.59. Senior Erin Thomas (Bangor, Maine) finished right behind Pulos at 1:52.77, good for second place.
Whitmire continued her strong day as she won the 50-yard freestyle, earning a time of 23.69 for nine points. Her teammate in sophomore Rachel Butler (Lancaster, Pa.) scored a time of 24.47 to earn second place. The junior sensation, Modglin, won her event over in the 400-yard IM, clocking in a 4:18.74 to earn points for Penn State. Junior Merritt Krawczyk (Kingwood, Texas) took second in the event.
Over in the diving events, junior Katie O'Connell (Andover, Mass.) posted a score of 237.00 to earn second in the one meter dive. O'Connell also finished second in the three meter dive, scoring in at 227.17.
Penn State will return to on November 4 and 5 as it heads to Auburn and Georgia Tech for a pair of duals.
Check back to GoPSUsports.com for continued updates throughout the 2011 season.