MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Penn State Swimming and Diving defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers in a dual meet on Friday, Jan. 30 at Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown, W.Va. The men’s team won by a score of 163-137, while the women’s team won by a tally of 157-140.
This is the last away dual meet for the Nittany Lions, and the second-to-last dual meet for the 2025-26 season. The Nittany Lions close out dual meet action on Saturday, Jan. 31, hosting George Washington at the McCoy Natatorium. The meet is set to begin at 10 a.m.
Men:
Top swims:
The men’s team win was led by standouts Tylor Kim and Cooper Morley, who both took home multiple individual wins. Kim won both the 50 free (20.13) and the 100 free (44.03), while Morley took home victories in the 100 back (46.66) and 200 back (1:44.89).
Notable performers also include Mariano Lazzerini, who won the 100 breast with a time of 52.86, and Vicente Villanueva, who followed with a second-place finish in the event with a time of 53.73 and took home a win in the 200 breast, swimming a 1:56.60. Andrew Christensen, Rylan Anselm and Matthew Bittner, also all took home victories in their respective events, with Christensen winning the 400 IM (3:54.02), Anselm winning the 500 free (4:29.75). and Bittner winning the 100 fly (47.13).
Relays:
The 200 free relay team of Rylan Anselm, Cooper Morley, Matthew Bittner and Tylor Kim took home first place in the event, recording a 1:20.15 time.
The 400 medley relay team of Jake Kennedy, Vicente Villanueva, Andrew Christensen and Rylan Anselm took second place, swimming a total time of 3:14.34.
Diving:
Hayden Elliott took first place in the 1-meter dive, posting a 347.70. Elliott also landed on the podium in the platform dive, posting a 283.13, good for third place.
Winners:
50 free: Tylor Kim 20.13
100 free: Tylor Kim 44.03
100 back: Cooper Morley 46.66
100 breast: Mariano Lazzerini 52.86
200 back: Cooper Morley 1:44.89
200 breast: Vicente Villanueva 1:56.60
500 free: Rylan Anselm 4:29.75
100 fly: Matthew Bittner 47.13
400 IM: Andrew Christensen 3:54.02
1-meter dive: Hayden Elliott
Women:
Top swims:
Margaret Markvardt, Morgan Moore and Audrey Cohen paced the women’s victory against the Mountaineers, each earning two individual victories. Markvardt won the 100 back, with a swim of 53.45, and 100 fly, with a swim of 53.88. Moore added to the win column by winning the 500 and 1000 free, posting respective times of 4:55.00 and 10:00.34. Cohen swam a 1:03.46 in the 100 breast and a 2:16.45 in the 200 breast, both good for first place.
Other strong performers include Julia Barto, who finished first in the 400 IM with a time of 4:18.19. Katie Ketter also took home a win in the 50 free, posting an impressive 23.04 time.
In addition,
Relays:
The relay team of Margaret Markvardt, Audrey Cohen, Cyrah Robinson and Catherine Meisner took home first place in the 400 medley relay, posting a total time of 3:40.77.
The 200 free relay team of Cyrah Robinson, Katie Ketter, Catherine Meisner and Margaret Markvardt posted a total time of 1:32.15, good for first place.
Diving:
Charlize Beniquez took home first place in the 1-meter dive with a score of 276.75. Abigail Ekstrom took second in the same event, posting a score of 276.45. In the platform event, Kailey Koval had a podium finish, placing third with a score of 241.28.
Winners:
100 back: Margaret Markvardt 53.45
100 breast: Audrey Cohen 1:03.46
1000 free: Morgan Moore 10:00.34
50 free: Katie Ketter 23.04
200 breast: Audrey Cohen 2:16.45
500 free: Morgan Moore 4:55.00
100 fly: Margaret Markvardt 53.88
400 IM: Julia Barto 4:18.19
1-Meter dive: Charlize Beniquez 276.75
For updates on the Swimming and Diving teams throughout the season, follow the teams on Instagram (pennstateswimdive) and X (PennStateSwim).