Nov. 16, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) has been named the CollegeSwimming.com Counsilman-Hunsaker Men's Division I 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 Virginia since the 1996-97 season.
The sophomore was responsible for four first place finishes, winning two individual events and part of two relays against two top-25 teams in Texas and Virginia. Of Penn State's seven wins over the two-day competition, Ryan played a part in over half of the victories.
The Havertown, Pa. native'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 CollegeSwimming.com Counsilman Hunsaker Men's Division I Swimmer of the week honor is the second award Ryan has received for his great weekend in Charlottesville, Va. The swimmer garnered Big Ten Swimmer of the Week recognition earlier in the week for his performance. Ryan is the second Nittany Lion to win the award this season, joining senior Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.), who won the award for his meet vs. West Virginia.
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.