Alexa Hetzel Season 2011-12

CAREER BESTS

2010-11 (Junior Year):
Competed in six events during her junior year... Qualified for the Big Ten Championships in the 100-Breaststroke, 200-Breaststroke, and 400-IM... Placed first in the 1000-Freestyle vs. St. Bonaventure, posting a time of 10:29.17... Posted a time of 1:06.91 in the 100-Breaststroke vs. Virginia Tech... Finished 17th in the 100-Breaststroke at the Georgia Invite with a time of 1:03.81... Placed 29th in the Big Ten in the 100-Breaststroke, recording a time of 1:04.41 at the Big Ten Championships... Took top-3 finishes in the 200-Breaststroke against Virginia Tech and West Virginia with times of 2:20.49 and 2:23.81, respectively... Finished 19th at the Big Ten Championships in the 200-Breaststroke, posting a time of 2:16.36... Recorded a season-best time of 2:15.92 in the prelims of the 200-Breaststroke at the Georgia Invite and placed 8th with a time of 2:17.06... Took 38th Place at the Georgia Invite in the 200-IM, posting a time of 2:09.21... Finished 33rd in the Big Ten in the 400-IM, recording a time of 4:26.61... Placed 28th at the Georgia Invite in the 400-IM with a time of 4:35.40... Competed on the 200-Medley Relay team vs. North Carolina, helping to post a time of 1:52.50.

2009-10 (SOPHOMORE YEAR): Media Guide Bio
Solid showing at the Big Ten Championships (2/17-20), competing in three different events - 1650 freestyle (17:20.32), 200 breaststroke (2:24.58, preliminary) and 400 IM (4:34.94, preliminary) ... At Ohio State (1/29-30), swam in two individual events and only three relays of the year. Finished eighth in the 200 breaststroke (2:27.44) and ninth in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.50). Placed fifth in the 200 medley relay (1:53.95) and seventh in both the 200 freestyle (1:39.14) and 400 medley (4:00.84) relays ... Had season-best time in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.97), finishing 14th, at the Pittsburgh Quad Meet (1/15-16). Also placed 12th in the 200 breaststroke (2:28.91) and 16th in the 200 butterfly (2:19.41) ... Qualified for the finals of the 200 breaststroke at the Ohio State Invitational (12/4-6), placing 23rd (2:25.79). Also swam the preliminaries of the 500 freestyle (5:15.07) and 400 IM (4:36.02) while finishing 19th in the 1650 freestyle (17:50.16) ... Was fourth in the 200 breaststroke (2:30.15), seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.78) and 10th in the 200 IM (2:13.62) against Virginia (11/20-21) ... Finished seventh in the 200 breaststroke (2:29.04) and eighth in both the 100 breaststroke (1:10.33) and 1000 freestyle (10:56.79) at Virginia Tech (10/31) ... Competed in both the 200 breaststroke (2:31.00) and 400 IM (4:43.82) in the home-opener against West Virginia/Colgate (10/24), finishing 11th and 10th ... Placed fourth in the 1000 freestyle (11:01.28) at St. Bonaventure (10/13).

2008-09 (FRESHMAN YEAR):
Participated in a variety of events in first collegiate season ... Had a great showing at Big Ten Championships, finishing with personal best times in the 1650 freestyle (17:29.79) and 400 IM (4:32.30, preliminary). Also swam in first 500 freestyle of season (and career) with a time of 5:05.28 (preliminary) ... Swam in second 200 IM of season against Rutgers ... Finished 12th and 14th in 400 IM (4:38.00) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.27) in the Villanova/Pittsburgh/Maryland meet ... Ohio State Invitational was highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the 1650 freestyle (18:00.35). Also participated in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.59) and 400 IM (4:33.93, preliminary) ... Personal bests in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.66) and 200 IM (2:11.25) came against UVA/Florida State. Also competed in the 200 breaststroke (2:27.49) ... Finished fifth (1:52.70) in the 200 medley relay against Southern Methodist ... A day earlier, was sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:25.54) against Texas A&M ... Opened home slate against Richmond with a pair of third-place finishes, in the 1000 freestyle (10:31.50) and 200 breaststroke (2:23.27) ... Opened season and collegiate career at West Virginia with two fifth-place finishes, the 200 butterfly (2:18.59) and 400 IM (4:39.91). HIGH SCHOOL:
Swam at Metuchen High School in Metuchen, N.J. ... During two years, was a part of eight Blue Conference titles while holding one conference record ... Holds 200 IM and free records for the Bulldogs ... Was a U.S.A. Scholastic All-American ... Also swam for the Scarlet Aquatic Club, going to Senior Nationals three times and the U.S. Open once. PERSONAL: Full name is Alexa Marie Hetzel ... Born on April 5, 1990 in Metuchen, N.J. ... The daughter of Bernie and Lucie Hetzel ... Has one sister, Catherine (23), who swam at Rutgers from 2004-08 ... Plans to be a kinesiology major. ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'It just felt like home away from home.' GETTING TO KNOW ALEXA
Nickname: Alexa
Major & Why: Kinesiology. I like knowing how the body works.
Favorite Thing About Penn State: Everything, especially football
Favorite Thing About State College: Meyer Dairy
Favorite Restaurant In State College: Baby's/Waffle Shop
Favorite Ice Cream At The Creamery: Cookies & Cream
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Swimming: Football
Favorite Athletic Memory At Penn State: 2009 Big Ten Championships
Favorite Class At Penn State: Kinesiology 202
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Musical Artist: Jack Johnson
Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy
Favorite Website: Youtube
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Andrea Kramer
Favorite Pro Team: New York Giants
Favorite Athletes: Jenny Thompson, Roger Federer
Childhood Idol: Mom and Dad
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, arts and crafts
Biggest Fear: Being chased
Best Player I Ever Played With: Michael Phelps
Magazine Cover I'd Like To Be On: Sports Illustrated
Most Prized Possession: Computer
Place I'd Like To Visit: Italy
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Become a physical therapist