Penn State Women, Men Sweep Visiting Villanova

The Nittany Lions’ women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams played host to Villanova Wildcats on Friday at McCoy Natatorium. Penn State won the women’s meet 156-101, and the men’s 150-101

Full results here

Penn State opened the score with a win in the women’s 400 medley relay from Casey Fazio (56.28), Melissa Rodriguez (1:03.70), Carolyn Fittin (56.57), and Alyson Ackman (50.23). They finished in 3:46.78 and were followed by the Penn State “B” and “C” relays. Villanova’s fastest foursome (Gabrielle Daigneault, Heather Farley, Fiona Hardie, Katrin Heider) finished in 3:56.09. The men’s relay followed the same pattern: Penn State University took the top three spots, led by Shane Ryan (49.36), Andrew Schuehler (58.57), Nate Savoy (49.06), and Jeff Young (47.19) in 3:22.77. Villanova’s top relay (Michael Rodriguez, Tyler Nussbaum, Murphy Smith, and Jason Moyer) finished in 3:38.32.

Penn State’s Megan Siverling carried the Penn State momentum forward into the 1000, winning in 10:02.52. Emily Mayo of Villanova took second in 10:11.60. Siverling later doubled with a win in the 200 free (1:49.08).

In the men’s 1000, Penn State’s Conall Loughlin touched first with 9:41.82. Teammate Robert Hilzen was ten seconds behind in second, and Villanova’s Harrison Rodts was third. Penn State was back with another 1-2 punch in the men’s 200 free: Robert Bantley (1:42.86) came in ahead of teammate Matt Grillo (1:44.35), while Wildcat Moyer (1:44.70) rounded out the podium.

Anna Farnsworth of the Nittany Lions won a very close 100 back race. She touched in 57.18, with teammate Ackman and Villanova’s Daigneault just behind in 57.48 and 57.65, respectively. In the men’s race, Shane Ryan (49.80) led a 1-2-3 Nittany Lion sweep with Kyle Madley and Ryan O’Neill. Rodriguez (54.35) was the first Wildcat to the wall.

The host women followed with a 1-2-3 of their own in the 100 breast: Caitlyn Karr went 1:04.76 for the win ahead of teammates Haley Sinatro and Katie Rowe. Farley led the Wildcat scorers with a 1:08.60. Penn State’s Young (58.55), Harrison Grimm, and Kevin Glenn dominated the men’s 100 breast; Nussbaum (1:02.00) was first among the Villanova breaststrokers.

Villanova’s Fiona Hardie won both butterfly races rather handily. She went 2:05.22 in the 200 and 56.52 in the 100 fly. Penn State’s Anna Valentine (2:07.31) and Farnsworth (57.76) were runners-up in the respective races.

Matthew Stasiunas of Penn State was the winner of the men’s 200 fly in 1:53.96. Teammates Joseph Ahlberg and David Gross both touched ahead of Villanova’s Niki Tchobanov (2:03.23).

In the sprint freestyle events, Penn State’s Katelyn Miller won the 50 in 23.63, while teammate Megan Wujciak finished first in the 100 with 51.42. Allie Pennetti (24.01) and Sarah Baxter (52.85) each picked up a second place, while Villanova’s Kaisla Kollanus (24.33 and 53.01) was third in both races.

Penn State’s Zach Kantz (21.27), Lawrence Virgilio (21.77), and Tim Mauer (21.86) swept the 50 free. Joe Moleski of Villanova went 22.27 for fourth. It was a whole different cast of characters in the 100, though. Penn State’s Savoy (45.64) and Stasiunas (46.33) came in just ahead of Villanova’s Moyer (48.03).

In the 200 back, Ackman of Penn State out-touched teammate Rowe, 2:02.43 to 2:02.95. Daigneault of Villanova went 2:05.28 for third. Nittany Lions Ryan (1:52.89), Ryan Magee (1:55.25), and Madley (1:55.51) swept the men’s 200 back. Andrew Stotesbery (1:59.09) put the Wildcats on the board.

Sinatro of Penn State got the win in the women’s 200 breast with 2:24.78. Villanova’s Olivia Cacciatore (2:26.62) was second. Ahlberg picked up his second win for the Nittany Lions going 2:11.72 in the men’s 200 breast. Villanova’s Jake Hoin (2:14.69) took second, thanks to a 33.4 final 50 that took him past Penn State’s Gross.

The women’s 500 free was the Race of the Caitlyns, and what a race it was. Penn State’s Karr (4:57.35) was first, teammate Kaitlin Jones (4:58.23) was second and Villanova’s Caitlin Daday (4:58.25) was right there with her but ended up third. The men’s 500 was not nearly as exciting. The Wildcats’ Greg Cino got the win in 4:51.45. Penn State’s O’Neill (4:44.58) swam exhibition.

Logan Ziegler of Villanova went 54.23 to claim the men’s 100 fly title. Tim Maurer (49.96) of Penn State led the field of exhibition swimmers.

Villanova’s Daigneault capped off a nice meet with a 2:08.74 win in the 200 IM. Teammate Sara Jurek (2:11.14) took second, although she finished 4/100 behind Penn State exhibition swimmer Casey Fazio. The men’s win went to Villanova’s Stotesbery (2:03.51). Glenn was the first of the Penn State exhibitioners, touching in 1:54.52.

Hardie, Kollanus, Heider, and Jurek combined for 1:37.23 to give the Villanova women a win in the 200 free relay. Their teammates Murtha, Rodriguez, Chris Tamanini, and Moyer (1:26.37) earned the points on the men’s side.

Final scores:

Penn State women 156 – 101 Villanova women

Penn State men 150 – 101 Villanova men