UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The 2018-19 Penn State men's and women's swimming & diving teams open the new season Saturday when they travel to take on nationally-ranked Virginia in the school's Aquatic and Fitness Center starting at 9 a.m. for the divers and 12 p.m. for the swimmers.
Schedule of Events
200 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
100 Back
100 Breast
200 Fly
50 Free
--Diving Break--
100 Free
200 Back
500 Free
100 Fly
--Diving Break--
200 IM
400 Free Relay
The Series
The Penn State women's team is 14-19 all-time against Virginia since 1981. The two teams have met annually since the 2001-02 season.
The Penn State men's team is 11-23 against Virginia in a series that dates all the way back to 1949. The teams have also met annually since the 2001-02 season.
The Nittany Lions
The Penn State men captained by seniors Sterg Dikos and Robbie Dickson, return 23 of its swimmers and divers from last year. Of those returning, 13 scored at the Big Ten Championships, led by diver Hector Garcia Boissier who garnered All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. The team is welcoming 10 freshmen to the squad.
The Penn State women, captained by seniors Katrina Kuhn and Ally McHugh, return 18 swimmers and two divers from last year's roster. The 2018-19 roster includes 12 freshman additions to the team. McHugh leads the squad after a successful junior season for Penn State and a thrilling summer for Team USA. McHugh claimed gold in the 1,650 freestyle and silver in the 400 IM at the 2018 Big Ten Championships, silver in the mile at the NCAA Championships, and then won gold in the 400-meter IM at the U.S. National Championships.
The Opponents
The Nittany Lions are facing tough competition from the start, as Virginia is ranked seventh on the women's side and 23nd on the men's in the initial CSCAA poll. The men finished last year placing 28th at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, with the women placing ninth.
Next Up
Penn State will host George Washington in McCoy Natatorium Friday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.
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 facebook.com/pennstateswimminganddiving.
