UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State swimming & diving team concluded their Blue and White Invitational Wednesday afternoon at McCoy Natatorium. The meet was their second inter-squad competition of the season where the team was split into both blue and white teams. The meet was unscored.
Junior Michael Daly set four new pool records in the 400 IM (3:45.79), 200 free (1:36.58), 200 back (1:42.04), and 100 back (47.01) which he secured for his lead-off time in the 400 medley relay. Both senior Hayden Harlow and junior William Lulek secured a new pool record, Harlow in the 200 IM (1:47.85) and Lulek in the 200 breast (1:59.76).
On day one, senior William Roberson set a new PR in the 100 free for his time of 43.45
Several women came close to their personal bests throughout the meet. Senior Maddie Cooke matched her PR in the 100 breast (1:00.83) for a win, while junior Marie Schobel was just under .70 seconds away from her career best in the 200 back.
Top Swims - Women
Junior Marie Schobel, a recent Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 back, placed first in the 200 back with a time of 1:55.75, nearly five seconds faster than her closest competitor. Schobel also placed first in the 100 back on day one (53.93).
Senior Camryn Barry swam an impressive early season time in the 200 free, placing first for the blue team with a time of 1:48.88. She also placed second in the 1000 free (10:02.97), and then first in the 500 free (4:52.19) on day one. Closely following Barry in second in the 200 free was white team's Abbie Amdor (1:50.47).
The women's 50 free was a close one, with senior Maddie Cooke coming in first (23.28) for the blue team, followed by sophomore Amdor in second (23.58), while sophomore Ellie Tiskus and freshman Cat Stanford tied for third (23.69). Cooke also placed first in the 100 breast (1:01.33) on day one.
Blue team senior Carly Hart swam for first in the 200 breast (2:14.80), only .69 seconds behind her career best time of 2:14.11 that she earned at 2020 Big Ten Championships. Hart also came in second and swam a personal best in the 400 IM (4:21.99), which she hasn't swam since her sophomore year.
White team junior Brooke Matthias placed first in the 100 fly (54.50) after placing first in the 200 fly (2:00.30) on day one.
Senior Stephanie Szekely secured first in the 400 IM (4:20.84). In the 1000 free, junior Madison Murtagh placed first with a time of 10:01.94.
Sophomore Abbie Amdor had a solid meet in freestyle, placing second in the 50 free (23.58) and 200 free (1:50.47) on day two after winning the 100 free (50.35) on day one.
Margaret Markvardt placed second in the 100 fly with a time of 55.37, following a win in the 200 IM on day one (2:01.49).
Top Swims - Men
Junior and Olympic Trials qualifier Michael Daly had an impressive showing on both days of the Invitational setting pool records in the 400 IM (3:45.79), 200 free (1:36.58), and 200 back (1:42.04). He also set a new pool record for his lead-off time of 47.01 in the 100 back during the 400 medley relay.
Senior Hayden Harlow secured a new pool record in the 200 IM for his winning time of 1:47.85. He also swam for second in the 100 breast (55.28) to add points for the blue team.
On day one of competition, junior William Lulek joined his teammates in setting a new pool record in the 200 breast (1:59.76), good for a first-place finish.
The blue team swept the 500 free with freshman Henry Radzikowski taking first (4:30.53) and fellow rookie Zachary Brewer swimming 4:34.24 for second-place. The duo also secured the top two spots in the 1000 free on day one with Radzikowski's winning time (9:19.35) and Brewer's following time of 9:30.76.
Blue team's Zac Zwijacz swam for first in the 100 fly (47.94). The junior also had a win on day one in the 200 fly for his time of 1:47.66.
Freshman Jake Houck improved on his previous times to secure a win in the 50 free (20.01) and a second-place finish in the 100 fly (48.18) for the white. Yesterday, Houck touched second in the 100 free with an impressive time of 44.93.
Following closely behind him in the 50 free was fellow freshman and white team member Branko Kosanovich who swam 21.78 to take home second.
For the blue, junior Daniel Raisanen swam for first in the 100 breast (54.94). In yesterday's meet, he also had a second-place finish in the 200 breast (2:00.37).
Nittany Lion Relays
To open the Blue and White Invitational, the women's 400 medley relay team of Schobel, Jack, Matthias, and Stanford won (3:39.31) for the white team. The same relay team also won the 200 medley relay on day one. To finish out the meet for the women, the blue team won the 200 free relay (1:33.14) with a team of Barry, Tiskus, Cooke, and Kate Sheridan. The blue team also won the 400 free relay (3:22.97) on day one.
The men's 200 medley relay team of Lachlan Byrne, Lulek, Houck, and Daly won the race for the white team with a time of 1:30.20. To conclude day two of the meet, the same relay team also finished first in the 400 free relay (3:00.45).
On the first day of the Invitational the men's 400 medley relay team of Will Roberson, Raisanen, Zwijacz, and Harlow swam for 3:15.19 to win the race and score for the blue team. The white won the 200 free relay after Daly, Devon Chenot, Houck, and Thomas Hurley swam for 1:20.31.
Event Winners (W)
Day 1
500 Free - Camryn Barry (4:52.19), blue
200 Fly - Brooke Matthias (2:00.30), white
100 Breast - Maddie Cooke (1:01.33), blue
100 Free - Abbie Amdor (50.35), white
200 IM - Margaret Markvardt (2:01.49), blue
100 Back - Marie Schobel (53.93), white
Day 2
1000 Free - Madison Murtagh (10:01.94), white
50 Free - Maddie Cooke (23.28), blue
200 Back - Marie Schobel (1:55.75), white
200 Breast - Carly Hart (2:14.80), blue
200 Free - Camryn Barry (1:48.88), blue
400 IM - Stephanie Szekely (4:20.84), white
100 Fly - Brooke Matthias (54.50), white
Event Winners (M)
Day 1
1000 free - Henry Radzikowski (9:19.35), blue
200 fly - Zac Zwijacz (1:47.66), blue
200 breast - William Lulek (1:59.76), white
100 free - William Roberson (43.45), blue
400 IM - Michael Daly (3:45.79), white
100 back - Lachlan Byrne (49.56), blue
Day 2
500 free - Henry Radzikowski (4:30.53), blue
50 free - Jake Houck (20.01), white
200 back - Michael Daly (1:42.04), white
100 breast - Daniel Raisanen (54.94), blue
200 free - Michael Daly (1:36.58), white
200 IM - Hayden Harlow (1:47.85), blue
100 fly - Zac Zwijacz (47.94), blue
Next Up
An official competition schedule has not yet been released. The teams next meet is tentative.
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State swimming and diving teams during the season. Follow the team on Twitter at @PennStateSWIM , on Instagram at @pennstateswimdive , and on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstateswimminganddiving.