UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State swimming and diving team hosted their Senior Ceremony and Awards Banquet, honoring the accomplishments of the team from the 2020-21 season.
The major awards that were presented this year were the L.D. MacNeill and Elizabeth McCoy Most Outstanding, Ellen Perry and Robert Krimmel Academic Achievement Award, the Nittany Lion Award, the 1855 Award, Iron Lion Award, the Robert E. Galbraith Award, the Jerome Weinstein Award, and the Ernest B. Mccoy Award.
The team also honored its 17 seniors: Gabe Castano, Jacob Deckman, Juliusz Gosieniecki, Hayden Harlow, Brych Hoch, Brad and Dale Johnson, Eben Krigger, William Roberson, Camryn Barry, Maddie Cooke, Jane Donahue, Elizabeth Gaspari, Carly Hart, Erika Marlin, Stephanie Szekely, Kamryn Umbel.
Marie Schobel, Stephanie Szekely, and Michael Daly were named the L.D. MacNeill and Elizabeth McCoy Most Outstanding Athlete award winners. The award is voted on by members of the swimming and diving team and given to those who contribute the most to the team's success by consistently having outstanding performances throughout the year.
Scobel represented the women at this year's NCAA Championship in both backstroke events. She finished 22nd in the 100 back with a personal-best individual time in the event and her 200 back time locked in a 39th place finish. At Big Tens, she swam for two top-24 times in the events, achieving sixth in the 100 and 14th in the 200.
This season, Daly earned a bid to the NCAA Championship in both the 400 IM and 100 back. He achieved 12th in the 400 IM and swam for 19th in the 200 back. He locked in All-America Honorable-Mention honors for his performance in the individual medley event. At this year's Big Ten Championships, he won gold with a career best, NCAA B-cut, and school-record time of 3:41.09 in the 400 IM. He became Penn State's first-ever Big Ten champion in the event. In addition, he secured seventh in the 100 back with an NCAA B-cut of 46.54 - moving up to No. 5 all-time in Penn State history.
William Roberson and Maddie Cooke were awarded the 1855 Award that is presented to the student-athletes whose improvement, transformation and personal growth mirrors that of Penn State since its founding.
Roberson secured an individual NCAA bid in the 50 free after an impressive performance in the event at Big Tens, earning bronze with a career-best and NCAA B-cut time. In addition, he was a member of the 200 free relay team that broke the school record at the Championships, locking in 1:16.88 for a 13th-place finish. At Big Tens, he also assisted the 200 medley relay in a fifth-place finish with a new Penn State best, the 400 medley relay who finished ninth, and the 400 free relay who swam for fifth. He concluded his senior season with All-America Honorable Mention honors.
Cooke is the sprint freestyle leader on the women's team with the third-fastest 50 free (22.39) in Penn State history. She earned that time in the 50 free B-finals at 2021 Big Ten Championships. Cooke also leads the team in the 100 breast (1:00.19), also with the third-fastest time in Penn State history that she earned at the senior meet against Michigan State.
Elizabeth Gaspari and Hayden Harlow earned the Ernest B. McCoy Award, an award presented annually to one senior female and one senior male student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The award is named for Ernest B. McCoy, the longtime dean of Penn State's College of Physical Education, who also served as the University's Athletic Director.
Gaspari has been a consistent sprint freestyler for the Nittany Lions throughout her four years with the team. She swam for her 50 free personal best (22.95) at Big Ten Championships this year, scoring for Penn State with a 20th place finish.
The Nittany Lion Award was presented to Jake Houck and Margaret Markvardt for their perseverance and effort as the most improved swimmer or diver during the year.
Houck ended his debut season with All-America Honorable Mention honors for his performance at the NCAA Championships. He swam for Penn State's third-fastest time in the 100 fly for 39th overall, and placed 31st in the 50 free. Additionally, he etched his name in the record books as a member of the 200 free that broke the school record at NCAA's for a 13th place finish. At the Big Ten Championships he placed in three events, including sixth in the 50 free, 16th in the 100 fly, and 22nd in 100 free.
Markvardt is a sophomore backstroker, flyer and IMer who scored in three different races at Big Ten Championships. She placed 14th in the 200 IM (2:00.54), 18th in the 100 fly (53.99) and 14th in the 100 back (54.09). Markvardt has the 10th-fastest 100 back and eighth-fastest 200 IM in Penn State history with the times she earned at Big Ten Championships.
The Iron Lion Award was added this year to highlight the swimmers and divers whose dedication sets them apart. They are the team members that have demonstrated incredible drive, discipline and a relentless work ethic in their pursuit of strength, which has enabled them to maximize their physical and mental potential as competitors. The second recipients of this award were Elizabeth Gaspari and William Roberson.
Kevin Sullivan was awarded the Robert E. Galbraith Award for his outstanding contributions through performance, loyalty, spirit and leadership as a Penn State diver throughout the season. Sullivan punched his NCAA ticket in the 3-meter at Zone A Competition He represented the Nittany Lions at this year's NCAA Championships, securing 39th in the 1-meter and 45th in the 3-meter.
The Jerome Weinstein Award is presented to the team members who are not only the hardest workers, but also those that are sure to give 100 percent to their teammates emotionally and physically through the good and tough times. The 2020-21 season recipients were William Lulek and Carly Hart.
Senior Hart leads the team in the 200 breast with her fastest time this year coming from her performance at Big Ten Championships where she swam 2:14.79 and placed 16th overall. She is also the eighth-fastest in Penn State history in the 100 breast (1:00.93) and placed 17th in the race at Big Ten Championships (1:01.13), scoring for the Nittany Lions.
The Ellen Perry Robert Krimmel Academic Achievement Awards are presented each year to the student-athlete on each the women's and men's team that has attained the highest level of academic excellence throughout the season. This year's recipients were Mikey Challis, Carly Hart, Marie Schobel, and Stephanie Szekely.
Szekely is eighth-fastest all-time for Penn State in the 200 back (1:56.73) and placed 18th in the 400 IM (4:15.63) at Big Ten Championships.
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State swimming and diving teams during the season. Follow the team on Twitter at @PennStateSWIM, on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstateswimminganddiving, and Instagram on @pennstateswimdive.
