Jan. 24, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's and women's swimming and diving teams will look to continue their winning ways this weekend as the squads travel to Annapolis, Md. to face the Navy Midshipmen. The competition is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at Lejeune Hall.
The Nittany Lion women are a perfect 3-0 in duals against Navy, most recently defeating the Midshipmen last season by a final count of 185-107. The men's side carries a 1-2 record against Navy into the weekend; however, Penn State won the last year's meeting by a score of 188-112.
The Blue and White's most recent competition was a week ago, in which the both teams defeated intrastate foe Villanova. The women posted a score of 166-118 and the men won by a final of 191-96.
The No. 17 women's squad is 2-2 in dual meets this season after defeating Villanova last Friday and West Virginia (152-102) in the season opener. The Nittany Lions' two losses came at the hands of No. 8 Texas (242-111) and No. 11 Virginia (226-127).
In last weekend's competition, the Lions claimed top marks in 14 of the 16 events, including both relays and one diving event. Junior Megan Siverling (Chester Springs, Pa.) led Penn State with two individual victories last weekend, claiming the top times in the 500 and 1000 free with marks of 4:53.42 and 10:05.55, respectively.
Alyson Ackman (Montreal, Quebec), Haley Sinatro (West Hartford, Conn.), Mackenzie Hornibrook (West Chester, Pa.) and Katelyn Miller (Hershey, Pa.) teamed up for both relay events at Villanova. The quartet finished first in the 200 medley relay in 1:45.28 and notched the fastest time in the 200 freestyle relay as well, touching the wall in 1:35.38.
Each of the relay swimmers posted top performances in their individual events as well. Ackman claimed first in the 100 backstroke, clocking in at 56.84, Sinatro touched the wall in 1:06.99 for the top finish in the 100 breaststroke, Hornibrook turned in fastest time in the 100 butterfly at 57.11 and Miller placed first in the 50 free with a time of 23.77.
Freshman diver Taylor Kramer (Naperville, Ill.) picked up her first collegiate win against the Wildcats, recording a season-best score of 222.07 on the one-meter board. Kramer also finished third on the three-meter board with a score of 173.93.
The Penn State men's swimming and diving program comes into the weekend's meet ranked 19th in the NCAA national poll. The squad has a dual meet record of 4-1 in the season, recording wins over West Virginia (155-129), Buffalo (155-137), Virginia (191-162) and Villanova (191-96) with its lone defeat coming at the hands of now No. 2 Texas (185-168).
In last weekend's meet at Villanova, the Nittany Lion swimmers turned in the best time in each of the 12 individual races and also the two relays. The Penn State divers also picked up two wins in the one and three meter events.
Nick Ankosko (East Brunswick, N.J.) led the way for the swimmers, touching the wall first in the 1,000 freestyle with a mark of 9:27.23 and the 500 free in 4:35.23. The senior was the only member of the team to finish with the best time in multiple events.
Other swimmers who had notable performances last Friday were freshman Andrew Schuehler (Camden, N.J.) and junior Kyle Madley (Madison, N.J.). Both Schuehler and Madley registered their first wins of the season, with Schuehler's in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.87 and Madley's in the 200 butterfly, touching the wall in 1:52.28.
The Blue and White divers also had a strong showing at Villanova, sweeping the two events. Sophomore Calvin Morris (Keller, Texas) shattered his previous career-best mark of 288.60 in the three-meter competition by posting a score of 327.75 to win the event. In the one-meter competition, T.J. Schenkel (Richboro, Pa.) claimed a victory with a score of 264.75.
After Saturday's meeting with Navy, the Nittany Lions swimming and diving teams will host their second and final home meet of the season, welcoming St. Bonaventure and Towson to McCoy Natatorium. The men's and women's swimming programs will honor their seniors at the meet with Senior Day. Events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.