COLLEGIATE BESTS:
Event | Score | Date | Site/Opponent |
100 Fly | 46.61 | 3/1/24 | B1G Championship |
50 Free | 20.93 | 1/12/24 | Army |
100 Free | 45.61 | 1/20/24 | Virginia Tech/Princeton |
50 Back | 22.33 | 10/21/23 | Pitt/Notre Dame |
100 Back | 46.85 | 3/1/24 | B1G Championship |
200 Back | 1:44.07 | 3/2/24 | B1G Championship |
200 IM | 1:46.74 | 12/1/23 | Big Al Invitational |
Career Accolades:
- Academic All-Big Ten (2024)
2022-23 (Freshman Year):
- Blue/White Intrasquad Meet (9/16): Won the 200 Medley Relay at 1:33.31.
- NC State Invitational (11/15-18): Swam the 100 Fly at 49.52 and the 100 Back at 49.77 on the first day of competition. Swam the 200 Back C-Final at 1:48.43.
- Villanova (1/27): Won the 200 IM at 1:54.00.
- Big Ten Championship (2/22-25): Swam the 100 Back at 48.24.
2023-24 (Sophomore Year):
- St. Bonaventure (9/30): Helped the 200 Medley relay team to a second place finish with a time of 1:30.31. Finished second in the 100 Back with a time of 49.29. Touched first in the 200 Back with a time of 1:50.18, and the 200 IM with a 1:51.08, a personal best.
- Army (1/12): Helped his relay team to a third place finish with a time of 1:22.04.
- Virginia Tech/Princeton (1/20): Finished third in the 200 Back with a time of 1:46.61.
- Villanova (2/2): Helped the 400 Medley relay team to a second place finish with a time of 3:24.62. Touched first in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 48.88.
- Big Ten Championship (2/28-3/2): Helped his team to a second place finish with a time of 1:22.93 in the 200 Medley, the fastest time in Penn State history. Posted a third place finish and an NCAA B Cut time in the 400 Medley with a time of 3:05.06. Recorded a personal-best time of 46.61 in the 100 Fly. Tallied another personal best time of 46.85 in the 100 Back.
- NCAA Championships (3/30): Competed in both the 200 Medley and the 400 Medley.
2024/25 (Junior):
- Navy (10/4): Touched third in the 100 Free with a 45.51, and in the 100 Back with a 49.10. Contributed to a first place finish in the 400 Fre relay, and a third place finish in the 200 Medley relay.
- Pitt (10/25-26): Contributed to first place finishes in the 400 and 200 Medley relay teams. Added a fourth place finish in the 200 IM.
- Ohio State (11/8): Touched third in the 100 Back with a 47.20. Helped the 200 Medley relay to a first place finish, and the 400 Free relay to a second place finish.
High School
Bittner swam for Cy-Fair High School under the coaching of Hannah Doré. During his four years at Cy-Fair, Bittner broke an individual record for the 100 Back as well as achieving All-American honors. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a member of the National Honors Society.
Personal
Matthew and his brother Daniel are the son of Rick and Ee-oon Bittner. Before attending Penn State, Bittner swam for Fleet (2006-2018) then Swim Streamline at Northampton (2018-2022). In 2021, his team placed ninth at the 2021 NCSA Championship.
On Choosing Penn State
"I chose Penn State for the amazing athletic and academic opportunities as well as the phenomenal coaching staff and team atmosphere."