PRINCETON, N.J. – The Penn State women's swimming & diving team finished the Princeton Al Big Invitational meet in second place with 1019.5 points, only four points away from first-place finisher and host, Princeton.
The women began the meet on day one with two individual and one relay win, and then had a stellar day on day two with four individual wins and another relay win. The Nittany Lions nearly caught Princeton in day three after trailing by 54 after day two with an event sweep in the 200 backstroke and multiple individual wins.
Top Swims
Senior Maddie Hart added onto her fast swims and two wins in the 100 butterfly and 100 back from day two by placing first in the 200 back (1:55.05) on day three, and third in the 200 fly (1:59.11).
Brooke Matthias also had an excellent swim in the 200 fly on day three, winning the race with a time of 1:58.23.
Marie Schobel, Stephanie Szekely, Elizabeth Gaspari, and Carly Hart all placed in the top five on the final day of the meet. Szekely and Schobel added to Maddie Hart's 200 back win by placing second (1:56.89) and third (1:57.22). Gaspari placed fourth in the 100 freestyle (50.16) and Carly Hart placed second in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.30).
Junior Maddie Cooke finished the meet with two wins. She had a career day on day one with her 50 free win and NCAA B-Cut time of 22.52, followed with another win and career best in the 100 breast (1:01.02) on day two, barely edging out fellow junior Carly Hart (1:01.04).
Freshmen Margaret Markvardt and Abbie Amdor each swam for first-place finishes over the three-day meet. Markvardt touched first in the 200 IM with a career best time of (2:01.18). Amdor won the 200 freestyle (1:47.12) on day two, and then placed second in the 100 free (49.16) on day three.
Top Dives
On the boards, senior Christina Crowell placed third in the platform finals with a score of 197.90. Freshman Wei Wei and sophomore Sierra Shurts immediately followed Crowell with 193.95 and 189.25 respectively. All three divers broke platform diving team records with their dives.
Nittany Lion Relays
The women took second in the 400 free relay (3:18.51) on day three with Amdor, Cooke, Gaspari, and Kate Sheridan on the block.
The first two days of competition came with multiple relay wins in the 200 medley relay (1:38.96) finals on day two with Schobel, Carly Hart, Maddie Hart, and Cooke, and 400 medley (3:36.37) with Schobel, Carly Hart, Maddie Hart, and Amdor. They also placed third in the 800 free relay (7:20.94) with Barry, Heather MacDougall, Elizabeth Gaspari, and Sadie Schumann on day two.
Event Winners
200 IM – Margaret Markvardt (2:01.18)
50 Free – Maddie Cooke (22.52)
100 Fly – Maddie Hart (52.78)
200 Free – Abbie Amdor (1:47.12)
100 Breast – Maddie Cooke (1:01.02)
100 Back – Maddie Hart (53.21)
200 Back – Maddie Hart (1:55.05)
200 Fly – Brooke Matthias (1:58.23)
Next Up
The Penn State divers will head to Buffalo, N.Y. for the three-day Buffalo Diving Invitational, starting Friday, January 10 and concluding Sunday, January 12 while the women's team will host Buffalo in McCoy Natatorium on Friday, January 10 and Saturday, January 11.
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State swimming and diving teams during the season. Follow the team on Twitter at @PennStateSWIM , on Instagram at @pennstateswimdive , and on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstateswimminganddiving.
