Dec. 7, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.) was the star of the Penn State men's swimming team on Saturday, the third and final day of the Texas Invitational. The senior raced to a third place finish in the 200 backstroke. The Nittany Lions competed in five individual events and one relay to cap off their stay in the state's capital.
The junior qualified for his second individual "A" final of the weekend on Saturday morning, finishing the preliminary round with a time of 1:43.99 and in seventh heading into the evening final. Savoy shaved over a second and a half off his prelim time in the final, touching the wall in 1:42.26 for a third place finish. The time is Savoy's best time in the event of the season and qualifies the Reading native for the NCAA "B" standard.
Also competing in the 200 backstroke was Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.). The race marked the first time the sophomore competed in the event as a NIttany Lion. Ryan qualified for the evening session with a 1:46.36 in the prelims. The Havertown native clocked in at 1:46.16 in the "B" final, finishing 14th and reaching the NCAA "B" qualifying standard.
Another standout performer over the last three days was John Hauser (Pottsville, Pa.). On Saturday, the senior hit his fourth individual NCAA "B" qualifying standard with a time of 43.44 in the prelims of the 100 freestyle event. The Pottsville native posted a time of 43.70 in the final to place 12th in the race.
Matt Salig (Downington, Pa.) and Nick Ankosko (East Brunswick, N.J.) added to Penn State's success at the invite, each earning top 15 performances. Salig finished 15th in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:47.85, reaching the NCAA "B" standard in the event. In the 1,650 freestyle race, Ankosko finished in 15:32.73, placing 11th.
The Texas Invitational closed its action-packed three days with the 400 freestyle relay. The Nittany Lion team consisting of Ryan, Hauser, Shane Austin (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Savoy raced to a fifth place finish with a time of 2:56.17, which is the fastest of any time turned in by a Blue and White relay team all season.
The Nittany Lions will be back in the pool after the New Year, as the team is scheduled to travel to Naples, Fla. for a meet with North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 4.