Career Bests
| Event | Time | Date | Competition |
| 50 Free | 19.06 | 2/27/20 | Big Ten Championships |
| 100 Free | 43.07 | 3/2/19 | Big Ten Championships |
| 200 Free | 1:37.75 | 3/1/19 | Big Ten Championships |
Career Notes
- CSCAA All-American (2020).
- NCAA Championships qualifier in the 50 free (2020) and 200 free relay (2020).
- NCAA Championships participant in the 50 free (2019) and 100 free (2019).
- Big Ten Championships 50 free silver medalist (2020) and bronze medalist (2019).
- Big Ten Championships 100 free A-finalist (2019) and B-finalist (2020).
- Scored at the Big Ten Championships in the 50 (2018, 19, 20) and 100 (2018, 19, 20) freestyles.
- Ranks as the second-fastest performer all-time at Penn State in the 50 free (19.06) and fourth-fastest in the 100 free (43.07).
- Member of Penn State’s school-record 200 free relay team (1:17.04) and fifth-fastest relay team (1:18.26).
- Member of Penn State’s second-fastest 800 free relay team (6:24.00).
- Member of Penn State’s third-fastest 200 medley relay team (1:25.35).
- Set McCoy Natatorium pool records in 200 medley relay (1:27.90) and 200 free relay (1:19.72).
- Two-time 50m free Mexican National Champion (2018, 19) and 100m freestyle Mexican National Champion (2018).
- Mexican 50m free record holder (22.20).
National/International
- Pan-Am Games (2019): Won bronze in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and placed fourth individually in the 50m free (20.23).
- Mexican Long Course National Championships (2019): Won gold in the 50m freestyle with a Mexican national-record time of 22.20 seconds and silver in the 100-meter freestyle, posting a personal-best time of 49.96 seconds in the prelims.
- Mexican Long Course National Championships (2018): Won gold in the 50m (22.70) and 100m (51.50) freestyles.
2020-21 (Senior Year)
- Big Ten Championships (3/1-3/6): Scored 22 points for the Nittany Lions, highlighted by an eighth place finish in the 50 free A-final (19.44). Member of the 200 free relay team that earned an NCAA bid with an A-cut time of 1:17.07 for a fifth-place finish. Member of the 200 medley relay team that locked in a new school record, swimming 1:24.86 for fifth. Additionally, swam for another fifth-place finish with the 400 medley relay that swam for the second-fastest time in program history (2:52.76).
2019-20 (Junior Year)
- Awards: CSCAA All-American…All-Big Ten second team.
- NCAA Championships: Qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50 free and 200 free relay, ranking fifth in the nation in the 50 free...Championships canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- Big Ten Championships (2/26-2/29): Won silver in the 50 free with a personal-best time of 19.06...Finished ninth in the 100 free (43.13)...Member of the 200 free relay team that broke a school record and finished fourth overall (1:17.38).
- at Bloomsburg (1/17): Made season debut finishing first in the 50 free (20.44)...Member of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:31.66).
- Villanova (1/31): Won both the 50 free - posting an NCAA B-Cut time of 19.64 - and the 100 free (44.05)... Member of both the winning 200 medley relay (1:27.90) and 200 free relay teams (1:19.72) that set new pool records.
- Last Chance Meet (3/7): Set school record in the 200 free relay with an A-cut and school record time of 1:17.04.
2018-19 (Sophomore Year)
- NCAA Championships (3/28-30): Finished 17th in the 50 free (19.21) and swam the 100 free (43.26).
- Big Ten Championships (2/27-3/2): Won a bronze medal in the 50 free with a career best time of 19.20…Placed eighth in the 100 free (43.29) after posting a personal best time of 43.07 in the preliminaries.
- at Virginia (10/6): Finished second in the 50 free (20.74) and third in the 100 free (45.50).
- George Washington (10/12): Won two races: the 200 free (1:40.67) and 100 free (45.07).
- at Virginia Tech/ vs. Ohio State (10/26-27): Finished fourth in the 50 free (20.51).
- Tennessee Invitational (11/29-12/1): Placed eighth in the 50 free (20.76) and sixth in the 100 free (43.57).
- at Navy/vs. North Carolina (1/12): Won the 100 free (44.92).
- West Virginia (1/18): Won two races: the 50 free (20.43) and 100 free (45.23).
- Bloomsburg (1/19): Won two races: the 200 free (1:41.07) and the 100 free (45.07).
- at Villanova (2/1): Won the 50 free (20.21).
2017-18 (Freshman Year)
- Big Ten Championships (2/21-24): Scored in the 50 free (19.77, 12th) and 100 free (44.21, 23rd)… Swam personal bests and “B” cut times in the preliminaries of both the 50 free (19.75) and 100 free (44.09)…Became the fourth fastest performer all-time at Penn State in the 50 free (19.75) with preliminary swim...Also swam a season best in the 200 free (1:38.58) and contributed to three relay efforts.
- Virginia (10/14): Won the 50 free (21.05).
- at North Carolina/vs. Navy (1/13): Placed second in the 50 free (20.63).
- Villanova (2/2): Placed second in the 200 free (1:40.59) and anchored a winning effort in the 200 medley relay (1:29.76).
High School
- Three-time Pennsylvania State Champion and four-year letterwinner swimming at Allentown Central Catholic.
- Three-time team MVP and two-time captain.
- Won state titles in the 50 freestyle (2016, 2017) and 100 freestyle (2017).
- Set AA state and school record in the 50 free (20.50 seconds) and school record in the 100 free (44.78) and named an All-American in both events.
- 2017 Lehighvalleylive and Allentown Morning Call Boys Swimmer of the Year.
- Also swam at Parkland Aquatic Club and holds club records in 4x100 and Medley relays.
- Was a competitive cyclist and competed at national level in track and mountain biking.
- Volunteered with Day Murrin Service Society.
Personal
- Full name is Gabriel Castano.
- Son of Luis and Adriana Castano.
- Has a sister, Angela, and brother, David.
- Hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee, cooking and cycling.
- Majoring in CAS with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Aspires to be a business owner and investor
- Born November 1, 1997 in Monterrey, Mexico.