Dec. 21, 2011
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's swimming head coach John Hargis welcomed the five newest members of the Nittany Lion program on Wednesday, which will join the team in 2012-13. Hargis announced the additions of Max Byers (Glen Carbon, Ill.), Andrew Eiken (Naperville, Ill.), Kevin Glenn (Matthews, N.C.), Matthew Grillo (Montreal, Quebec) and Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) during the early signing period.
"The overall class is great," Hargis said. "We filled some needs we're going to have in the future after we graduate three All-Americans in Brian Alden, Mitch Scherer and Scott Marino. We're always trying to keep student-athletes in state and we were able to do that with Shane Ryan. Max Byers, Andrew Eiken, Kevin Glenn and Matthew Grillo all fill needs that we'll have and we're very excited to have them coming to Penn State."
MAX BYERS
Hometown: Glen Carbon, Ill.
High School: Edwardsville
Club: Edwardsville Breakers
Club Coach: Bob Rettle
Honors & Highlights: Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American...YMCA National Finalist...Junior National Finalist participant...Named Illinois First Team All-State...Earned three varsity letters in swimming.
Personal: Maxwell Byers was born January 20, 1994 in Maryville, Ill. to Jane and Greg Byers...Brother, Greg, ran cross country and track at Oregon...Intends to go to graduate school for physical therapy.
Byers on Penn State: " I chose Penn State because of the coaches and education. The coaches at Penn State were the one I meshed with the best and have a different style of coaching that is exciting and different. When it comes to education, a degree from Penn State is one that an employer would be very impressed with, and in the end, you go to school for a degree."
Hargis on Byers: "Max is coming in as a great breaststroker, more in the 200 event than the 100 right now, but when he gets here we'll be able to help him develop those four-lap races. He's a great breaststroker and he will help us in that direction to replace the hole that Mitch Scherer leaves. He's a great student and we're excited to have Max come in and help us in the breaststroke area."
ANDREW EIKEN
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
High School: Naperville North
Club: Maverick Swim Club
Club Coach: Mark Towsend
Honors & Highlights: Holds the 200 and 500 freestyle record for Maverick...Swam for Kurt Johns at Naperville North, winning the 2010 conference championship...Achieve All-American status in 2008-09 and 2009-10...Named All-State First Team 2009-10 and earned All-State Second Team 2008-10...Holds the conference record in the 200 free...Earned All-Conference honors in 2009 and 2010...Named to Academic All-Conference squad in 2009 and 2010.
Personal: Andrew Glynn Eiken was born September 22, 1993 in Chicago, Ill. to Ron and Mary Eiken...Has two sisters, Jilian and Olivia...Intends to work in either finance or accounting upon graduation.
Eiken on Penn State: " I chose Penn State because the amount of pride I felt around the university was unlike anywhere else. Also, the team was really close and I got along with the guys."
Hargis on Eiken: "Andrew is a great sprinter. Anytime at the collegiate level you can add speed, it's something that you try to do. He's out of Illinois from the same area that Brian Alden is from. He's a big man and he's got a lot of speed. I think he's going to help us in the 50, 100, 200 [freestyle events] as well as the relay positions, which will be a big deal for Andrew." KEVIN GLENN
Hometown: Matthews, N.C.
High School: Providence
Club: Swim Mac Carolina
Club Coach: James Wike
Honors & Highlights: Earned two state, three regional and three conference championships at Providence coached by Sandy Martin...Two-time All-State, four-time All-Region and five-time All-Conference performer...Helped lead team to the North Carolina 200 medley relay record...Three-time letterwinner in swimming...Swam for Swim Mac Carolina under the direction of James Wike...Holds 400 IM long course record for 15-16 year olds.
Personal: Kevin Michael Glenn was born May 27, 1994 in Matthews, N.C. to Teri Schoenhardt and David Glenn...Has one sister named Gina Glenn who swims for Lenoir-Rhyne College...Intends to pursue a business career upon graduation.
Glenn on Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I felt it offered me the best opportunity athletically and academically. I really enjoyed being around the team and felt that the coaches would push me to be the best I could be. While walking around campus it just felt like home to me."
Hargis on Glenn: "Kevin is a swimmer coming up from North Carolina that one of my old coaches helps coach him. He's grown up in a Penn State family: his grandfather still lives in town. He's been Penn State his entire life. He's going to be an exciting swimmer watch develop. He came out of an unbelievable meet in junior nationals and got a new Olympic Trials cut in the 400 IM. He will help us in the IMs and backstrokes." MATT GRILLO
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
High School: John Rennie
Club: Pointe-Claire Swim Club
Club Coach: Ryan Mallette
Honors & Highlights: An accomplished swimmer out of Quebec swimming for Ryan Mallette at the Pointe-Claire Swim Club...Broke 10 Quebec Provincial records during career...Member of the Canadian Junior National Team in 2010...Finalist in the 2010 Spring and Summer Nationals in the 50 free.
Personal: Matthew Grillo was born June 4, 1993 in Montreal, Quebec to Michele Delaunay and Gaetano Grillo...Has a sister, Vanessa, and a brother, Alexander.
Grillo on Penn State: "I loved the atmosphere on campus. The academics and athletics are amazing. You are really cred for as an athlete at Penn State."
Hargis on Grillo: "He's one of the top swimmers out of Canada, one of the top 18-and-unders that Canada has produced. He's a great sprinter and is an extremely talented swimmer. I'm interested to see how he transitions to a short-course yards program. Short-course meters, he's a great swimmer. From an NCAA [short-course] standpoint, I don't forsee any problems at all. He's just a speed swimmer, he can swim anything from the 50 [freestyle] to the 200 as well as the 100 back, 100 fly. We're excited to get a swimmer of his caliber out of Canada." SHANE RYAN
Hometown: Havertown, Pa.
High School: Haverford
Club: Radnor Aquatic Club
Club Coach: Mike Robinson
Honors & Highlights: Earned 10 All-America distinctions at Haverford coached by Matt Stewart...Earned 11 All-State honors, while winning the 2011 PIAA and District 1 200 free event...Holds District 1 record in the 200 free and 100 backstroke set in 2011...Owns the State and District 1 record in the 100 back, set in 2010, which is the sixth fastest time in high school history...Named 2010 and 2011 Central League and DelCo Swimmer of the Year...Helped guide team to PIAAs in the 200 medley relay in 2010 and 2011 as well as the 400 free relay in 2011...Captain of the 2011-12 swim team...Member of the 2010 and 2011 USA Swimming Youth National team, while swimming for Radnor Athletic Club under the direction of Mike Robinson...Letterwinner in golf, football and volleyball at Haverford.
Personal: Shane Patrick Ryan was born January 27, 1994 in Drexel Hill, Pa. to Thomas and Mary Beth Ryan...Has a brother named Brendan and a sister named Tara...Intends to pursue sports nutrition and swimming following graduation.
Ryan on Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I felt like it was the right place for me with its beautiful campus and the quality education offered in so many majors. I loved everyone on the swimming team and how close it is to home as well as liking the idea of swimming for my home state."
Hargis on Jones: "We are always trying to keep student-athletes in state so being able to keep Shane Ryan, arguably the No. 1 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania, home was a big win for us. We've been excited about Shane for a couple of years and we were probably deemed the underdog going into the recruiting process. He just came out of a great junior nationals meet and we're extremely excited to get Shane on campus." --NITTANY LIONS--