COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Nittany Lions traveled cross state lines to open up Big Ten competition against the Buckeyes of Ohio State on Friday, November 8th. Despite their individual success and improvements, both Nittany Lions teams fell short in their first conference dual meet of the season.
The men looked to improve their win streak on the heels of a big home win over Pittsburgh in Happy Valley, but fell 173-127 to the Buckeyes in an intensely close competition.
The women hoped to get back in the win column after dropping their home opener to Pittsburgh, but fell short with a final score of 243-57 in Columbus.
Despite the losses, Penn State’s competitors earned multiple career-best finishes on both sides of the meet, showing true grit and evident improvement just three meets into the season.
“We went up against a very talented, championship program and made tremendous strides with our efforts today both in the water and on the boards, that align with what we set out to be our season-long progress and goals,” emphasized head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron. “These student-athletes stayed focused on the team effort throughout the entire meet with their individual performances, which we believe is building the championship foundation.”
Men
Freshman Rylan Anselm touched fourth in the 1000 Free to earn a personal best time with a 9:14.92. Anselm was trailed by Jack Clancy, who finished a second behind in fifth place with a final time of 9:15.94.
Anselm added a third place finish in the 500 Free, with another career best time of 4:27.60. On his trail again was Clancy, finishing in fourth with a final time of 4:28.07, his career best.
Cooper Morley went two-for-two on the day, earning victories in the 100 Back and the 100 Fly. Morley earned a B Cut finish in the 100 Back with a 46.21, and earned a season best time of 47.19 in the 100 Fly.
Matthew Bittner touched third in the 100 Back with a final time of 47.20.
Alex Karahalis touched first in two events, earning career-best times in each. The sophomore touched first in the 200 IM with a 1:45.94, and in the 200 Fly with a 1:45.57.
Graduate Student Filipe Pinheiro and junior Mariano Lazzerini touched second and third in the 200 Breast, with respective times of 53.42 and 53.51, Pinheiro’s finish good for a B Cut.
Lazzerini added a second place finish in the 200 Breast with a 1:56.00, good for a B Cut finish as well.
Sophomore Tylor Kim went two-for-two in his freestyle events, with career best times in both. Kim was victorious in the 50 Free with a 19.77, and a 43.27 finish in the 100 Free.
Jack Harvey tallied a third palace finish in the 200 Back with a final time of 1:44.87, closely trailed by Sean Honey who finished fourth with a 1:47.00.
Relays
The Nittany Lions tallied their first win of the day with the 200 Medley Relay consisting of Cooper Morley, Mariano Lazzerini, Matthew Bittner and Tylor Kim, finishing with a 1:25.41.
The 400 Free Relay consisting of Cooper Morley, Matthew Bittner, Mariano Lazzerini and Tylor Kim added a second place finish with a final time of 2:56.31.
Diving
Hayden Elliott added a second place finish in the three meter competition with a 336.98. His nearest competitor in the Blue and White was freshman Isaiah Clerkley who finished fifth with a 303.98, trailed by Daniel Mcaughey who finished the day with a 240.60.
Hayden Elliot touched first in the one meter competition, with a final score of 329.10.
Women
Junior Morgan Moore added a third place finish in the 1000 Free with a career-best time of 9:41.82, shaving twenty-seven seconds off her previous fastest swim of the season. Moore then swam for a career-best time in the 500 Free with a 4:45.43, good for a B Cut finish.
Margaret Markvardt touched second in the 100 Back with a career best time of 53.82, and added a second place finish in the 200 IM with her best of the season, a 2:00.98.
Catherine Meisner touched first for the Nittany Lions and third overall in the 200 Free, with a season-best swim of 1:46.88.
Julia Meisner added a third place finish in the 200 Fly with a 2:02.71 finish, her best of the season.
Maura Fluehr finished third in the 100 Fly with a 54.10, her best of the season, and added a personal best time of 23.36 in the 50 Fly.
Relays
The Nittany Lions kicked off the day with a third place finish in the 200 Medley relay, with Ellie Brandbergh, Margaret Markvardt, Maura Fluehr and Katie Ketter combining their efforts to earn a 1:40.89 finish.
The Blue and White added a third place finish in the 400 Free Relay with Catherine Meisner, Katie Ketter, Maura Fluehr, and Margaret Markvardt, for a final time of 3:22.84.
Diving
Kailey Koval led the Nittany Lions on the three meter dive, finishing fourth with a 300.83. Touching sixth was Abbey Ekstrom with a 285.90, followed by Grace Brammer with a 251.85.
Abbey Ekstrom was the leading Lion on the podium in the one meter, finishing fourth with a final score of 274.35. Ekstrom was trailed by Kailey Koval in fifth, with a 270.60, and Brammer in seventh with a 242.48.
Top Finishes
100 Back: Cooper Morley (46.21)
200 Fly: Alex Karahalis (1:45.57)
50 Free: Tylor Kim (19.77)
100 Free: Tylor Kim (43.27)
100 Fly: Cooper Morley (47.19)
1 Meter Dive: Hayden Elliott (329.10)
200 IM: Alex Karahalis (1:45.94)