Dec. 7, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - Four top-five finishes, including one program record-tying effort and one career-best, highlighted the Penn State women's swimming team's final day of competition at the Texas Invitational on Saturday. Alyson Ackman (Montreal, Quebec), Megan Siverling (Chester Springs, Pa.) and Gabi Shishkoff (Franklin, Mass.) each posted top five performances for the Blue and White.
Ackman turned in a third place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking in at 48.85, but the highlight of the sophomore's day came in the prelims as she registered a program record-tying time in the event, touching the wall in 48.74. Ackman's effort ties former Nittany Lion Paige Whitmire's record from last season.
Siverling placed third in the 1650 freestyle, clocking in at 16:17.75. The junior's season-best mark also meets the NCAA "B" qualifying standard. Shishkoff claimed fourth place in the 200 butterfly, registering a career-best and "B" qualifying time of 1:57.43. The senior notched a career-best time and met the "B" qualifying standard in the prelims of the 200 backstroke as well, finishing in 1:58.44.
The 400 freestyle relay team of Ackman, Carolyn Fittin (Sea Girt,N.J.), Kaitlin Jones (Midlothian, Va.) and Caitlyn Karr (Reading, Pa.) produced the final top-five finish for the Nittany Lions, touching the wall 3:17.48. The relay squad's time also stands a "B" qualifying mark. Fittin hit the "B" qualifying standard in the 100 freestyle prelims, clocking in at 49.71.
Mackenzie Powers (Sycamore, Ill.) swam her way to a sixth place finish in the 200 backstroke, posting a career-best and "B" qualifying time of 1:56.89. Melissa Rodriguez (Chihuahua, Mexico) and Katelyn Sowinski (Severna Park, Md.) were the final top 10 finishers for the Lions, placing seventh (2:13.10) and ninth (16:44.06) in the 200 breaststroke and 1650 freestyle, respectively. Rodriguez's time also meets the "B" qualifying standard.
Katie Rowe (Glenville, N.Y.) and Casey Fazio (Washington, N.J.) each met the "B" standard in the prelims and finals of the 200 backstroke with their best times coming in the prelims. Rowe posted a time of 1:58.51 in the prelims and finished 11th in the finals while Fazio touched the wall in 1:58.87 in the prelims and claimed 12th place in the finals.
The Nittany Lions take month hiatus from the pool before returning to action in the New Year to face North Carolina. Penn State will travel to Naples, Fla. to take on the Tar Heels on Jan. 4, 2014.