LION CAREER
2008-09 (Junior): Swam personal bests in three events (400 IM, 500 free, and 1,000 free)...Turned in a season best 4:32.48 at Big Tens in the 500 free (51st)...Clocked a 4:00.82 in the 400 IM at Big tens, good for 34th place...Notched a time of 15:49.39 (28th) at Big Tens in the 1,650 freestyle...Swam a time of 9:21.92 in the 1,000 freestyle vs. OSU/Michigan/ Northwestern...One of the top long distance threats on the team...Finished second in the 1,000 free vs. West Virginia...Swam to second in the 500 free vs. West Virginia...Finished second in the 1,650 freestyle against Maryland/Pitt/Villanova.
2007-08 (Sophomore): Excelled as a distance swimmer in his sophomore campaign taking his first medalist finishes in the 1,650 freestyle at the quad meet with Pitt/Maryland/Mizzou/Nova and in the 1000 freestyle against Indian River C.C. ...Swam career best in the 500 free at the Big Ten Championships and shaved nine seconds off his 1650 freestyle time in the same quad meet, taking first place...Placed second in the 500 freestyle against Indian River C.C. ...First place in the 1000 freestyle against Indian River C.C. ...First place in the 1,650 freestyle against Pitt/Maryland/Missouri/Villanova.
2006-07 (Freshman): Swam in just four different events as a freshman, the 500, 1000 and 1,650 freestyle and the 400 IM...Swam in the 500 and 1650 free at the Big Ten[apos]s as well as the 400 IM, with 31st place in the 1,650 free as the best finish...Had the fifth best time in the 1,650 free on the...Finished third in the 1,000 free at the dual meet at West Virginia...Won the 1,000 free and placed second in the 500 free in the dual meet vs. West Chester...Placed third in the 1,000 free in the dual meet vs. Rutgers...Finished fifth in the 1650 free in first swim of the year in that event and finished 13th in the 400 IM and 15th in the 500 free at the Shamrock Invitational...Placed 31st in the 1,650 free at Big Ten Championships.
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year letterwinner at Mount Lebanon High School...The team went 11-1 in dual meets sophomore and junior seasons and 8-2 senior year...Served as team captain senior year...The champion in the 500 freestyle at the WPIAL meet and finished 10th in the same event at the state meet...As a junior, placed ninth at states in the 500 free and helped lead team to the WPIAL championship...An honor roll student.
PERSONAL
Colin Quirk was born on March 30, 1988 in Cherry Hill, N.J. to Patrick and Mary Quirk...Has four siblings, an older brother Dan, a younger brother Patrick, and two younger sisters, Megan and Bridget...Father ran track and cross country at West Chester, while his mother was also a track and cross country athlete at Kutztown...Brother, Dan, is currently a swimmer at St. Bonaventure...Majoring in history and would like to become a high school teacher.
ON CHOOSING PENN STATE
'I chose Penn State because of the great academic and athletic reputation.'