Summer 2007: Matt swam at one event, the Charlotte Ultraswim, during the summer season, and participated in the 200 breaststroke, 400 IM and 800 freestyle.
2006-07: Matt spent his freshman season mainly swimming in dual meets and also swam at the championship format Bell Grand Prix as he used his freshman season to get acclimated to college swimming. His best finish of the year was a fourth place finish in the dual meet vs. Rutgers. He swam the fourth fastest time of the year on the team in the 200 breaststroke.
Meet-by-Meet Highlights: Made his collegiate debut at the Bell Grand Prix as he finished 26th in the 1650 freestyle in his only swim of the year in that event and also swam in the 200 breast and 400 IM....Placed fourth in the 200 breast in the dual meet vs. Rutgers.
High School: Matthew was a three-year letterwinner at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. and was a team captain his senior year. He was a member of the Academic Honor team and in the pool swam mainly in the 500 freestyle and 200 IM events.
Personal: Matthew was born on October 20, 1986 in Princeton, N.J. He is the son of Elaine Bright. Has an older sister, Michelle, who was a member of the swimming team at Harvard, and a younger sister, Heather. His father, David, swam at Penn State. He will be majoring in hotel restaurant management at Penn State and would like to be the owner of a top hotel or resort or the CEO of a resort for a career. He lists reading, swimming, watching movies and listening to music as his hobbies.
Why I Chose Penn State: 'I chose Penn State because of its overall excellence in academics and athletics.'