Feb. 10, 2015
ROSEMONT, ILL. - For the second time this season a Penn State men's swimmer has been named Swimmer of the Week by the Big Ten, as junior Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) garnered those honors, the conference announced Tuesday.
Ryan a freestyle and backstroke specialist won a total of three events this past weekend at the Virginia Tech Invite, held in Christiansburg, Va. He was fastest in the 100 back (46.26) and 50 free (20.37) on Saturday and then finished up competition on Sunday with another gold in the 100 free with his 43.70 performance. Both his times in the 100 back and 100 free qualified as NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
"Shane had some solid swims this past weekend which will give him some momentum going into Big Ten's and the NCAA's," said head coach Tim Murphy following the announcement.
The former All-American in the 100 back (2013-14) has finished first in every 100 back and 100 free race he has swam in this season, which together counts for eight total events. He has also amassed four golds in five chances while competing in the 50 free thus far in 2015.
Ryan is no stranger to accolades, as to go along with his All-America status, he also received an All-America Honorable Mention in the 400 Medley Relay last season, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and was named 2014 Swimmer of the Big Ten Championships.
This is his second Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honor as he also received the award in Nov. 2013 and additionally was named the conference's top freshman swimmer for back-to-back weeks during the 2012-13 season.
Senior Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.) joins Ryan as the only two Nittany Lions to take home the weekly award so far this season. Savoy was given his honor, Jan. 20.
Penn State will next be in action Feb. 25-28, when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa to take part in the Big Ten Championships.
Big Ten Release: http://bit.ly/1A9oko6