Feb. 2, 2017
| PENN STATE at VILLANOVA | |
| | |
Friday, Feb. 3 - Diving - Noon, Swimming - 4 p.m. | |
| Villanova Swim Complex | Villanova, Pa. | |
| MEET LINKS | |
TV: ESPN2 -->Swimming and Diving BlogFollow Us: @PennStateSWIM | Facebook | InstagramTop Times: Men | WomenMeet Central
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State swimming & diving will conclude the regular season Friday at Villanova in the Villanova Swimming Complex, with the divers competing at 1 p.m. and the swimmers competing at 4 p.m.
The meet will be the final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships. The Lions will be looking to finalize their relay lineups and tweak individual skills.
The Series
Both Penn State programs hold winning records over Villanova. The men hold a 27-13 advantage in a series that dates back to 1938, and the women are 22-1 over the Wildcats since 1980. The men have challenged the Wildcats in each of the last four seasons, while the women have done so since the 2007-08 season. Last season, Penn State sent its seniors out in style with The Penn State men and women sent their seniors out in style with 153-125 and 151-104 wins, respectively.
The Nittany Lions
The Penn State men and women improved to 3-3 and 3-4, respectively, in their last meet Jan. 21 against Navy. Senior Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) won three individual events for the men, breaking his own pool record in the 100 freestyle by touching in 42.99 seconds, and he rallied the 400 freestyle relay team to a come-from-behind victory on the final leg to close out the meet and earn Big Ten Men's Swimmer of the Week for the sixth time this season. Freshman Kaelan Freund (Lethbridge, Alberta) matched Ryan's three individual wins and relay win with a sweep of the 100 (55.10) and 200 (2:02.17) breaststrokes and a win in the 200 IM (1:50.60), and was recognized as the Big Ten's top freshman for the third time in as many meets.
Four Nittany Lion women's swimmers won multiple events against Navy, including seniors Casey Francis (East Meadow, N.Y.) and Katie Saloky (Bloomsburg, Pa.) The women were dominant from the start, winning the opening 200 medley relay followed by a 1-2-3 Nittany Lion sweep of the 1000 freestyle led Francis in a personal best 9:48.93. Francis also won the 500 free in 4:52.07 to lead a sweep of the top four spots, and was followed in the scoring positions by classmate Katelyn Sowinski (Severna Park, Md.), who touched second in 4:57.32. Sowinski also claimed the 200 fly in an NCAA B-cut of 1:58.94. Saloky won the 50 free in 22.92 and the 100 fly in 54.76. Junior Tommie Dillione (Newtown, Pa.) won both the 100 (51.27) and 200 (1:49.37) freestyles, leading a sweep of the top five spots in the 200.
The Penn State divers will be competing for a fourth consecutive weekend.
The Wildcats
The Villanova women are 7-2 in dual meets this season, most recently defeating West Virginia, 147-96, on Saturday. The Wildcats were led by Darby Goodwin, who was named the Big East Female Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week. The men are 3-5 after most recently falling to West Virginia 172-71. The 'Nova and PSU women share a common opponent, Rutgers, with both teams earn ing victories over the Scarlet Knights.
Next Up
Penn State will next compete in the Big Ten Championships. The womens' meet is Feb. 15-18 at Purdue, while the men's meet is Feb. 22-25 at Ohio State.