CAREER BESTS
2016-17 (Sophomore Year)
Competed in nine meets including the Big Ten Championships, swimming primarily in the distance and IM events … Earned career bests in the 400 IM (3:55.58) and the 500 free (4:27.59) at the Big Ten Championship … Achieved three other career bests in the 1000 Free (9:30.76) against UVa and Michigan (11/5), in the 1650 free (15:33.56) in the Last Chance Qualifier Meet (3/5) and in the 200 back (1:50.72) at the Ohio State Invitational (11/20)… 1000 free and mile times led the team … Earned the second fastest time on the team for the 400 IM and third fastest time for the 500 free … Ranked fifth on the team for the 200 breast (2:16.93), 200 backstroke and the 200 IM (1:54.94).
2015-16 (Freshman Year)
Competed in six different strokes over nine meets, including the Big Ten Championships … Primarily competed in distance events … Swam a season-best time at the Big Ten Championships in the 500 Freestyle (4:29.63) … Posted season-best times in the 400 individual medley (4:00.07) and 200 back (1:52.60) at the UGA Invitational … Ranked second on the team in the mile with a top time of 15:42.00 at the Penn State Invitational … Won the 1000 free in 9:37.79 against Villanova (2/6).
High School
Earned four letters at Salesianum School under Head Coach Chip Hannig … Led his team to four state championships along with four individual titles including: a two-time 500 free championship, 400 free relay state championship, and a 200 medley state championship … Garnered all-state honors three times and was second team all-state in his freshman season … Was a three-time scholastic All-American and was a four year member of the honor roll … Competed in the 2013 Junior Nationals as well as the Open Water Nationals for three years.
Personal
Full name is Robert Dickson … Born May 13, 1997 in Bridgeton, N.J. … Parents are Robert and Sharon … Siblings are Marie, Heidi and Joey … Majors in journalism.
Why Penn State?
"I felt that the combination of the academic and athletic challenges offered at Penn State will help prepare me for the real world."