Nov. 12, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) has been named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week for the first time in his career. The sophomore had an excellent showing in the two-day meet vs. Texas and Virginia last weekend and helped the Nittany Lions to their first win over the Cavaliers since the 1996-97 season.
Ryan was a part of four first place finishes, with two coming in individual events and two as part of relays against two top-25 teams in Texas and Virginia. The Havertown native was responsible for four of Penn State's seven event wins over the two day meet.
The sophomore's two individual wins came in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Ryan recorded a time of 20.38 in the 50 and followed it up with a mark of 47.87 in the 100 to earn two victories. Ryan was a member of the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams that claimed wins, finishing in 3:15.13 and 2:57.86 respectively. The sophomore also notched two second place finishes in the 100 freestyle and as a member of the 200 freestyle relay team.
The Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honor is the first of Ryan's career. The swimmer garnered back-to-back Big Ten Freshman Swimmer of the Week accolades during the beginning of the 2012-13 season. Ryan is the second Nittany Lion to win the award this season, joining senior John Hauser (Pottsville, Pa.).
Ryan and the Blue and White travel to Austin, Texas for their first invite of the season from Dec. 5-7 for the Texas Invitational.