March 23, 2012
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The Penn State men's swimming team had another outstanding afternoon at NCAAs as the 200 medley relay earned and Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.) in the 200 back will make championship finals appearances. Scott Marino (Scotch Plains, N.J.) will take part in the consolation finals of the 400 IM. Tonight's finals action will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The 200 medley relay finished eighth in a time of 1:26.06, a half-second off its Big Ten time. Savoy led the relay off with a 21.79 backstroke leg before Mitch Scherer (Pottstown, Pa.) swam 24.31 breaststroke and Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.) a 20.71 fly portion.
Shane Austin (Kennett Square, Pa.) continued his spectacular championship with a blazing 19.25 free anchor as the team made its second-straight finals appearance after last night's All-America 400 medley relay performance. Penn State earned honorable mention All-America in 2011 when it won the consolation finals for ninth place. Barring disqualification, the 200 medley relay will gather All-America honors tonight when finals kick off at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Savoy returned to the pool later in the day for the 100 backstroke and swam an eighth-place prelim in 46.69. in the process, Savoy will become Penn State's first individual championship finalist since Patrick Schirk in 2008 when he won the 200 backstroke. Grier also swam the 100 back, finishing 22nd in a time of 47.45.
Marino was Penn State's lone entry in the 400 IM and the school-record holder did not disappoint Friday. He swam a season-best 3:47.98 to earn 15th place, gaining entry into tonight's consolation finals and another chance for PSU to rack up points. After Thursday night, PSU was in 16th place with 22 points thanks to the 400 medley relay team.
Following Marino's 400 IM showing, Grier swam a 47.05 in the 100 butterfly, good for 21st. Matt Salig (Downingtown, Pa.) went 1:38.09 in the 200 freestyle for a 44th place showing, while Scherer and Brian Alden (Lansdale, Pa.) competed in the 100 breaststroke. Alden was 22nd in a time of 53.97, while Scherer was 25th in 54.11.
In addition to the 400 medley relay, the 800 freestyle relay will compete in the timed finals to cap Friday night's events.
--NITTANY LIONS--