Jan. 18, 2017
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Penn State senior Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) and freshman Kaelan Freund (Lethbridge, Alberta) both picked up where they left off last semester, as the two Nittany Lions were named the Big Ten Men's Swimmer and Freshman Men's Swimmer of the Week, respectively, for the second consecutive time Wednesday by the Big Ten Conference office.
Ryan and Freund earned the same platitudes Nov. 23 following the Ohio State Invitational, Penn State's last meet before this past weekend's dual meet win over Yale. Ryan has now claimed the Big Ten weekly honor following five of the six meets he has swam in this season and he ranks in the top seven in the Big Ten in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles and the 100 backstroke. He leads the Big Ten in the 100 backstroke, but did not compete in the event against Yale.
Ryan led the Nittany Lions against the Bulldogs. Over the two-day meet, Ryan placed first six times, helping three relays and touching first individually three times, and also set two pool records. On Friday, Ryan became the first to swim the 50 freestyle in a sub-20 second time, winning the event in 19.72 seconds. The returning Olympian was also a key contributor to a pair of winning relay efforts, joining the opening 400 medley relay (3:18.38) and the closing 200 freestyle relay (1:21.73). To close the meet Saturday, Ryan anchored the 400 freestyle relay and touched first for a team time of 2:59.46, clinching the dual meet for the Nittany Lions. Prior to that individually, Ryan set his second pool record in as many days, winning the 100 butterfly in an NCAA B-cut time of 47.24 seconds, and he also nearly bested his own pool record in the 100 free, winning that event in 43.93 seconds - a tenth of a second shy of his effort in McCoy from 2014.
Freund was also a major factor in Penn State's victory. He has emerged as Penn State's leading breaststroker, as he won both the 100 (55.42) and 200 (1:59.79) against Yale, and he also placed runner up in the 200 (1:49.89) and 400 (4:02.04) IM. Freund also contributed to winning efforts in the 200 and 400 medley relay.
Penn State will host Senior Day Saturday in McCoy Natatorium against Navy. The meet is set to start at noon.