Men’s Swimming Tops Gallaudet 152-53 for Third Straight Win

Men’s Swimming Tops Gallaudet 152-53 for Third Straight Win

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Penn State Altoona men's swimming team earned its third consecutive dual meet win on Friday night, when the Lions triumphed 152-53 at non-conference opponent Gallaudet University in the Field House Pool.

Just three days after posting a then-season-high 10 first places against Wells College, the Lions exceeded that mark by recording 12 first place finishes against Gallaudet. That total represents the most first places by the team in a dual meet since the squad had 13 first places against Wells on January 19, 2016.

Andrew Lesnett (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) and Tanner Yaw (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) each finished with three individual first places for the Lions.

Lesnett took first place in the 200 Yard Freestyle, in which he posted a time of 1:57.93. One event later, he was victorious in the 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:16.64. After one more swim, Lesnett won his third event of the night when he placed first in the 50 Yard Freestyle, touching the pad at 24.69.

Yaw's first win of the evening came in the 200 Yard Butterfly, in which he finished with a time of 2:09.91 to take first place. Later, he prevailed in the 100 Yard Freestyle by clocking in at 55.79. After several more events, Yaw took first in the 100 Yard Butterfly, posting a time of 57.21 for his third first place of the meet.

Four other Lion swimmers each picked up one individual first place.

Cooper Gilkey (Ebensburg, PA/Central Cambria) earned a first place finish in the 1000 Yard Freestyle, finishing in 12:02.73. Michael Begany (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) won the 100 Yard Backstroke, clocking in at 1:05.40. Greg Landis (York, PA/West York) secured a first place in the 200 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:41.19. Tyler Stauss (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) triumphed in the 500 Yard Freestyle, finishing in 5:58.54.

Penn State Altoona rounded out its performance by winning both of the men's relay events.

In the first event of the men's meet, the 200 Yard Medley Relay, Begany, Landis, Stauss, and Bryce Bauer (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) combined for a time of 1:57.77 to take first place. In the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, the last event of the night, Bauer, Begany, Gilkey, and Landis finished atop the standings with a combined time of 3:54.90.

Men's swimming finishes its regular season schedule on Saturday, January 26, when the squad travels to Erie, Pa. to go up against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Penn State Behrend in a dual meet starting at 1:00 p.m. After that, the Lions will prepare for the conference championships in February.