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CAREER BESTS
| Event | Time | Date | Site/Opponent |
| 50-Freestyle | 22.74 | 3/17/11 | NCAA Championships |
| 100-Freestyle | 49.03* | 2/19/11 | Big Ten Championships |
| 100-Backstroke | 54.82 | 12/4/10 | Georgia Invite |
| 200-Freestyle Relay | 1:29.64* | 2/17/11 | Big Ten Championships |
| 400-Freestyle Relay | 3:17.44* | 2/19/11 | Big Ten Championships |
| 800-Freestyle Relay | 7:32.88 | 12/4/10 | Georgia Invite |
| 200-Medley Relay | 1:39.62 | 3/18/11 | NCAA Championships |
| 400-Medley Relay | 3:36.16* | 2/18/11 | Big Ten Championships |
* Penn State School Record 2010-11 (JUNIOR YEAR):
Competed in 8 events throughout her Junior Year... Earned All-American Honors in the 400-Freestyle Relay...Qualified for the NCAA Championships in 6 events... Took 40th Place in the nation in the 50-Freestyle, posting a time of 22.74... Finished 8th Place at the Big Ten Championships in the 50-Freestyle with a time of 22.74... Posted a time of 23.12 for a 11th Place finish in the 50-Freestyle at the Georgia Invite... Placed 29th at the NCAA Championships in the 100-Freestyle with a time of 49.15...Took 9th Place in the 100-Freestyle in the Big Ten, posting a time of 49.03, a Penn State Record... Finished 6th in the 100-Freestyle at the Georgia Invite with a time of 49.74... Placed 53rd in the 100-Backstroke at the NCAA Championships, recording a time of 55.46 after posting a time of 55.41 in the prelims... Took 15th in the Big Ten with a time of 55.74 in the 100-Backstroke... Finished 10th in the 100-Backstroke at the Georgia Invite with a time of 55.04... Combined with Katie Pulos, Erin Thomas, and Paige Whitmire to place 16th at the NCAA Championships in the 200-Freestyle Relay... The 200-Freestyle Relay team also placed 2nd in the Big Ten with a time of 1:29.64, a Penn State record... Placed 17th at the NCAA Championships in the 400-Freestyle relay, posting a time of 3:18.83... Also placed 4th in the Big Ten in the 400-Freestyle relay, recording a time of 3:17.44, the best time in team history... Helped the 400-Freestyle Relay to four 1st Place finishes... Took 13th Place in the 800-Freestyle Relay at the Georgia Invite with a time of 7:32.88... Placed 17th at the NCAA Championships in the 200-Medley Relay, posting a time of 1:39.62... Guided the 200-Medley Relay team to a 4th Place finish at the Big Ten Championships, recording a Penn State-record time of 3:36.16.
2009-10 (SOPHOMORE YEAR): Media Guide Bio
Strong sophomore campaign highlighted by swimming to eight 'NCAA B' times ... Part of the school-record breaking 200 freestyle relay team to set a new school record at the Last Chance Meet (2/28). Palser, Paige Whitmire, Lindsey DeForrest and Michelle Myers posted an 'NCAA B' time of 1:30.27 ... Also took part in the 50 freestyle ... Strong showing at the Big Ten Championships (2/17-20) - participating in five events overall - while finishing among the top 16 in three. Posted 'NCAA B' times in three separate relays, finishing sixth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.13) and eighth in both the 400 freestyle relay (3:21.24) and 200 medley relay (1:41.62) ... Placed 14th in the 100 freestyle (50.18) and 20th in the 100 backstroke (56.17). Also swam and set a season-best time in the 50 freestyle (23.60, preliminary) ... Stellar effort at Ohio State (1/29-30), finishing at or near the top in nearly every event - 200 freestyle relay (first, 1:32.42), 100 freestyle (second, 51.01), 400 freestyle relay (second, 3:23.52), 200 medley relay (second, 1:43.96), 400 medley relay (third, 3:48.79) and 50 freestyle (fourth, 23.81) ... At the Pittsburgh Quad Meet (1/15-16), placed first in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.39), second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:26.16), 200 medley relay (1:45.21), 400 medley relay (3:50.09) and 100 freestyle (51.93), and fourth in the 50 freestyle (23.82) ... Swam in seven races at the prestigious Ohio State Invitational (12/4-6) - 50 freestyle (24.27, preliminary), 100 freestyle (13th, 51.79), 100 backstroke (14th, 57.49), 400 freestyle relay (third, 3:25.11), 800 freestyle relay (11th, 7:41.61), 200 medley relay (15th, 1:47.65) and 400 medley relay (10th, 3:52.73) ... Won the 400 freestyle relay (3:26.40) against Virginia (11/20-21) in the first home meet of the season. Placed second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.34), third in the 200 medley relay (1:45.97), sixth in the 400 medley relay (3:54.37) and ninth in both the 50 (24.23) and 100 (52.77) freestyles ... Was busy at Virginia Tech (10/31) in swimming four events: 50 freestyle (third, 23.95), 100 freestyle (sixth, 52.88), 400 freestyle relay (second, 3:25.52) and 200 medley relay (first, 1:44.55) ... Was on the first-place 400 freestyle relay (3:25.49) and 400 medley relay (3:48.92) teams against West Virginia/Colgate (10/24). Also placed fourth in the 100 freestyle (52.35).
2008-09 (FRESHMAN YEAR):
Enjoyed successful first collegiate season highlighted by numerous top five finishes ... Top times in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles all came at Big Ten Championships ... Placed 24th in the 50 (23.30, preliminary), 21st in the 100 (50.62, preliminary) and 70th in the 200 freestyle (1:54.06, preliminary) while finishing fifth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.98) ... Against Ohio State, finished second in the 50 freestyle (24.20), fourth in the 100 freestyle (52.48), first in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.93) and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:31.26). The 200 freestyle win marked her first and only first-place finish to date ... Was fourth in the 100 freestyle (53.21) and 200 medley relay (1:48.94) against Rutgers ... Swam to a fourth-place finish in the 50 freestyle (24.22), second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.92) and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:34.02) in the meet featuring Villanova/Pittsburgh/Maryland ... Had strong showing at Ohio State Invitational with personal third-best time in the 50 freestyle (23.92, preliminary) and 100 freestyle (51.98). Set season-best with a mark of 1:43.41 in the 200 medley relay, good for fifth overall, while posting a seventh-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:28.17) ... At Southern Methodist, was fourth in the 50 freestyle (24.11), fifth in the 100 freestyle (52.42) and second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.47) ... Posted sixth-place finish in the 50 and 100 freestyle (52.69) at Texas A&M to go with season-best time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:25.56), good for second overall ... In first home meet of season against Richmond, finished fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.89) and second in the 400 medley relay (3:52.01) ... Finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 50 (24.48) and 100 (53.64) freestyle at West Virginia in season opener. HIGH SCHOOL:
Swam for Downingtown East in Exton, Pa., setting school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay ... Won a PIAA state championship in the 50 free in 2007 ... Named Daily Local Swimmer of the Year in 2007 ... Participated in the 2006 and 2007 Junior Nationals with the Malvern Swimming Association. PERSONAL: Full name is Samantha Lynne Palser ... Born March 11, 1990 in Boothwyn, Pa. ... Daughter of Marcia and Robert ... Has a younger brother, Chris (10) ... Cousin, Joe Homitz, graduated from Penn State in 2006 ... Marketing major. ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'Penn State was the only school where I found the perfect balance of challenging athletics and academics. Also, I love the atmosphere of the school and the people.' GETTING TO KNOW SAMANTHA
Nickname: Sam
Major: Marketing
Favorite Thing About Penn State: Everything
Favorite Thing About State College: Football games
Favorite Restaurant In State College: Cozy Thai
Favorite Ice Cream At The Creamery: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Swimming: Football
Favorite Athletic Memory At Penn State: Big Ten Championships
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Musical Artist: Drake
Favorite Movie: 10 Things I Hate About You
Favorite TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Pro Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest Fear: Birds
Magazine Cover I'd Like To Be On: Glamour
Place I'd Like To Visit: Greece
If I Had $1Billion, I Would: Buy an island
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Rich, married, and in the sun