UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State swimming and diving teams hosted the Yale Bulldogs on Saturday, October 18 at the McCoy Natatorium.
The second home meet of the season served as Senior Day, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association, which recognized the graduating senior class. 15 seniors and one graduate student were honored.
The following seniors were honored: Charlize Beniquez, Matthew Bittner, Erik Bolang, Delaney Burns, Andrew Christensen, Eduardo Cisternas, Hayden Elliott, Mariano Lazzerini, Margaret Markvardt, Ryan McNutt, Catherine Meisner, Julia Meisner, Morgan Moore, Cooper Morley, Mackenzie Pagett and Nya Robinson.
Men:
Top Swims:
Senior Eduardo Cisternas grabbed second in the 1000-yard Freestyle, swimming a 9:15.84.
Senior Matthew Bittner grabbed first in the 100-yard Back, swimming a 45.72. Following him was senior Mariano Lazzerini, claiming victory in the 100-yard Breast with a 52.60.
Jake Kennedy took home first in the 50-yard Free with a time of 20.40. The sophomore followed with a win in the 100-yard Free, posting a 45.15.
Lazzerini grabbed his second event title of the day, winning the 200-yard Breast with a 1:54.65.
Relays:
The 400-yard Medley Relay team of Cooper Morley, Mariano Lazzerini, Matthew Bittner, and Rylan Anselm took home first with a time of 3:06.82.
The Nittany Lions fought hard for a win in the 200-yard Free Relay. Lazzerini, Kennedy, Morley and Bittner grabbed first with a 1:19.37.
Diving:
Hayden Elliott led the field in the 3-meter dive, winning the event with a score of 321.15. Elliott also placed third in the 1-meter dive, posting a score of 312.83, while Alex Wodehouse placed fifth with a score of 269.78.
Winners:
100 Back: Matthew Bittner, 45.72
100 Breast: Mariano Lazzerini, 52.60
50 Free: Jake Kennedy, 20.40
100 Free: Jake Kennedy, 45.15
200 Breast: Mariano Lazzerini, 1:54.65
3-Meter Dive: Hayden Elliott, 321.15
Women:
Top Swims:
Senior Morgan Moore swam a strong 9:57.68 in the 1000-yard Free, good for second place. Senior Catherine Meisner followed, touching second in the 200-yard Free with a 1:47.47.
Senior Margaret Markvardt won a hard-fought battle in the 100-yard Back with a time of 54.69, winning by just one one-hundredth of a second.
The Nittany Lions followed, touching first place in 50-yard Free, with Katie Ketter swimming a 23.34. This served as a new personal best for the sophomore.
Moore gave her all in the 500-yard Free, fighting for a win with a 4:52.90.
The Nittany Lions swept the podium in the 100-yard Fly, with Markvardt coming out on top with a 55.20. Freshman Cyrah Robinson followed with a 55.22, followed by freshman Millie Evans with a 56.04
Sophomore Julia Barto took first in the 400-yard IM, swimming a 4:18.85. Senior Julia Meisner trailed, boasting second with a time of 4:21.21.
Relays:
Margaret Markvardt, Audrey Cohen, Cyrah Robinson and Catherine Meisner swam a 3:41.83 in the 400-yard Medley relay, good for second.
The team of Markvardt, Robinson, Ketter and Julia Shaffer took home second in the 200-yard Free relay, posting a 1:31.58.
Diving:
Penn State swept the podium in the women’s 3-meter dive. Grace Brammer led the way with a score of 298.13, followed by Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer (268.20) and Kailey Koval (254.03). Abby Ekstrom also placed fourth in the event with a score of 239.18.
Brammer also claimed victory in the one-meter dive, posting a score of 271.43. Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer placed third in the event, tallying a score of 248.93.
Winners:
100 Back: Margaret Markvardt, 54.69
50 Free: Katie Ketter, 23.34
500 Free: Morgan Moore, 4:52.90
100 Fly: Margaret Markvardt, 55.20
400 IM: Julia Barto, 4:18.85
1-Meter Dive: Grace Brammer, 271.43
3-Meter Dive: Grace Brammer, 298.13
For updates on Penn State Swimming and Diving, follow the team on Instagram (@pennstateswim) and X (pennstateswimdive).