Gabe Castano Season 2020-21

Career Bests

Event	Time	Date	Competition
50 Free	19.06	2/27/20	Big Ten Championships
100 Free	43.07	3/2/19	Big Ten Championships
200 Free	1:37.75	3/1/19	Big Ten Championships

 
Career Notes

• CSCAA All-American (2020).
• NCAA Championships qualifier in the 50 free (2020) and 200 free relay (2020).
• NCAA Championships participant in the 50 free (2019) and 100 free (2019).
• Big Ten Championships 50 free silver medalist (2020) and bronze medalist (2019).
• Big Ten Championships 100 free A-finalist (2019) and B-finalist (2020).
• Scored at the Big Ten Championships in the 50 (2018, 19, 20) and 100 (2018, 19, 20) freestyles.
• Ranks as the second-fastest performer all-time at Penn State in the 50 free (19.06) and fourth-fastest in the 100 free (43.07).
• Member of Penn State’s school-record 200 free relay team (1:17.04) and fifth-fastest relay team (1:18.26).
• Member of Penn State’s second-fastest 800 free relay team (6:24.00).
• Member of Penn State’s third-fastest 200 medley relay team (1:25.35).
• Set McCoy Natatorium pool records in 200 medley relay (1:27.90) and 200 free relay (1:19.72).
• Two-time 50m free Mexican National Champion (2018, 19) and 100m freestyle Mexican National Champion (2018).
• Mexican 50m free record holder (22.20).

 
National/International

• Pan-Am Games (2019): Won bronze in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and placed fourth individually in the 50m free (20.23).
• Mexican Long Course National Championships (2019): Won gold in the 50m freestyle with a Mexican national-record time of 22.20 seconds and silver in the 100-meter freestyle, posting a personal-best time of 49.96 seconds in the prelims.
• Mexican Long Course National Championships (2018): Won gold in the 50m (22.70) and 100m (51.50) freestyles.

 
2020-21 (Senior Year)

• Big Ten Championships (3/1-3/6): Scored 22 points for the Nittany Lions, highlighted by an eighth place finish in the 50 free A-final (19.44). Member of the 200 free relay team that earned an NCAA bid with an A-cut time of 1:17.07 for a fifth-place finish. Member of the 200 medley relay team that locked in a new school record, swimming 1:24.86 for fifth. Additionally, swam for another fifth-place finish with the 400 medley relay that swam for the second-fastest time in program history (2:52.76).

2019-20 (Junior Year)

• Awards: CSCAA All-American…All-Big Ten second team.
• NCAA Championships: Qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50 free and 200 free relay, ranking fifth in the nation in the 50 free...Championships canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Big Ten Championships (2/26-2/29): Won silver in the 50 free with a personal-best time of 19.06...Finished ninth in the 100 free (43.13)...Member of the 200 free relay team that broke a school record and finished fourth overall (1:17.38).
• at Bloomsburg (1/17): Made season debut finishing first in the 50 free (20.44)...Member of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:31.66).
• Villanova (1/31): Won both the 50 free - posting an NCAA B-Cut time of 19.64 - and the 100 free (44.05)... Member of both the winning 200 medley relay (1:27.90) and 200 free relay teams (1:19.72) that set new pool records.
• Last Chance Meet (3/7): Set school record in the 200 free relay with an A-cut and school record time of 1:17.04.

2018-19 (Sophomore Year)

• NCAA Championships (3/28-30): Finished 17^th in the 50 free (19.21) and swam the 100 free (43.26).
• Big Ten Championships (2/27-3/2): Won a bronze medal in the 50 free with a career best time of 19.20…Placed eighth in the 100 free (43.29) after posting a personal best time of 43.07 in the preliminaries.
• at Virginia (10/6): Finished second in the 50 free (20.74) and third in the 100 free (45.50).
• George Washington (10/12): Won two races: the 200 free (1:40.67) and 100 free (45.07).
• at Virginia Tech/ vs. Ohio State (10/26-27): Finished fourth in the 50 free (20.51).
• Tennessee Invitational (11/29-12/1): Placed eighth in the 50 free (20.76) and sixth in the 100 free (43.57).
• at Navy/vs. North Carolina (1/12): Won the 100 free (44.92).
• West Virginia (1/18): Won two races: the 50 free (20.43) and 100 free (45.23).
• Bloomsburg (1/19): Won two races: the 200 free (1:41.07) and the 100 free (45.07).
• at Villanova (2/1): Won the 50 free (20.21).  

 
2017-18 (Freshman Year)

• Big Ten Championships (2/21-24): Scored in the 50 free (19.77, 12^th) and 100 free (44.21, 23^rd)… Swam personal bests and “B” cut times in the preliminaries of both the 50 free (19.75) and 100 free (44.09)…Became the fourth fastest performer all-time at Penn State in the 50 free (19.75) with preliminary swim...Also swam a season best in the 200 free (1:38.58) and contributed to three relay efforts.
• Virginia (10/14): Won the 50 free (21.05).
• at North Carolina/vs. Navy (1/13): Placed second in the 50 free (20.63).
• Villanova (2/2): Placed second in the 200 free (1:40.59) and anchored a winning effort in the 200 medley relay (1:29.76).   

 
High School

• Three-time Pennsylvania State Champion and four-year letterwinner swimming at Allentown Central Catholic.
• Three-time team MVP and two-time captain.
• Won state titles in the 50 freestyle (2016, 2017) and 100 freestyle (2017).
• Set AA state and school record in the 50 free (20.50 seconds) and school record in the 100 free (44.78) and named an All-American in both events.
• 2017 Lehighvalleylive and Allentown Morning Call Boys Swimmer of the Year.
• Also swam at Parkland Aquatic Club and holds club records in 4x100 and Medley relays.
• Was a competitive cyclist and competed at national level in track and mountain biking.
• Volunteered with Day Murrin Service Society.

 
Personal

• Full name is Gabriel Castano.
• Son of Luis and Adriana Castano.
• Has a sister, Angela, and brother, David.
• Hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee, cooking and cycling.
• Majoring in CAS with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
• Aspires to be a business owner and investor
• Born November 1, 1997 in Monterrey, Mexico.