Feb. 2, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men's and women's swimming & diving teams were both victorious over Villanova in a regular season-concluding dual meet, as the men won, 186-105, and the women won 163-127, Friday evening in McCoy Natatorium.
The Penn State men (2-7) claimed the top placing in each even until swimming the final three events as exhibitions, while the women (2-7) claimed all but three events before swimming the final three as exhibitions as well.
The Nittany Lions had some of their biggest performances on the boards. Freshman Emma Hellmann (283.88), senior McKayla Mawn (277.65) and Kamryn Umbel (273.74) finished 1-2-3 in the women's 1-meter springboard, with all scoring above the NCAA Zone Regional qualification score. Umbel (285.89), Christina Crowell (280.27) and Mawn (263.77) also finished 1-2-3 in the 3-meter, with Umbel and Crowell scoring above the Zone standard.
On the men's side, senior Connor Scanlon set personal bests in the 1-meter (354.59) and 3-meter (358.20). His 1-meter score was good enough to claim the event over teammate Hector Garcia-Boissier (348.15), but Garcia edged Scanlon in the 3-meter with a score of 370.50. Jack Crow was third in both events, scoring 313.27 in the 1-meter and 333.52 in the 3-meter.
Scanlon and Mawn were not the only seniors to have a successful Senior Night. Niki Price claimed the women's 100 back (55.89) and posted the top time in the 100 fly (55.34) and Emily Harris posted the top time in the 200 IM (2:06.03). Ryan O'Neill touched first in the men's 50 free (21.03)
Penn State opened the meet by sweeping the men's and women's 200 medley relays for an early lead. Freshman Camryn Berry set the tone for the individual events with a personal best in the 1000 freestyle, touching first in 9:56.74, while Robbie Dickson swam a season-best of 9:25.18 in the men's 1000.
On the men's side Matthew DiNunzio was a multiple event winner as he won the 200 freestyle in 1:40.42 and the 100 in 46.28, and Kaelan Freund matched him by touching first in the 200 breast (2:03.31) and posting the top time in the 200 IM (1:51.11). Other event winners included Tomer Zamir (100 back, 50.00), Gunther Cassell (100 breast, 56.81), Matthew Popovich (200 fly, 1:53.94), Austin Wilson (200 back, 1:51.44) and Joao Cervone (500 free, 4:36.13).
Sophomore Maddie Hart claimed a pair of events for the winner, touching first in the (2:00.82) and 200 back (1:58.96). Additional winners on the women's side included Carly Hart (100 breast, 1:04.15), Katrina Kuhn (50 free, 23.40) and Annalee Johnson (200 breast, 2:22.85).
Next for the Nittany Lions, select members will compete in a "First Chance Meet" at Ohio State, Saturday and Sunday Feb. 10-11, otherwise the Big Ten Championships are next. Ohio State is hosting the women's championships Feb. 14-17, while Minnesota is hosting the men's championships Feb. 21-24.
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State swimming and diving teams during the season. Follow the team on Twitter at @PennStateSWIM and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/pennstateswimminganddiving.