Photo: Penn State Altoona sophomore Emily Booz was one of three women's swimmers with two individual first place finishes in Saturday's meet at Pitt-Bradford.
Photo: Penn State Altoona sophomore Emily Booz was one of three women's swimmers with two individual first place finishes in Saturday's meet at Pitt-Bradford.

Men's, Women's Swim Teams Split Dual Meet at Pitt-Bradford

BRADFORD, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona men's and women's swimming teams competed in their first dual meets of the season on Saturday afternoon against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Pitt-Bradford, and the men's team lost 116-74 while the women's team won 122-51 at the Paul Duke Aquatics Center.

The Lion men's squad recorded two first place finishes during the meet.

In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, Tom Weir (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield) came in first place with a time of 1:09.59. In the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, the Lions' team of Caleb Marasco (Altoona, PA/Altoon), Weir, Diego Ibarra (Quito, Ecuador/Letort), and Gino Cercone (Allison Park, PA/Shaler) combined for a time of 1:43.59 to win the event.

The Lady Lions had a banner day, totaling eight first place finishes out of 11 events.

Penn State Altoona started the meet by winning the 200 Yard Medley Relay, as the team of Emily Booz (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga), Elizabeth Anderson (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land), Danielle Bye (Hockessin, DE/Cab Calloway School of the Arts), and Mariah Lee (Ardmore, PA/Haverford) combined for a time of 2:06.35.

Booz and Bye also both picked up two first place finishes in individual events.

In the 200 Yard IM, Booz came in first with a time of 2:31.39. Later, she won the 100 Yard Backstroke by finishing in 1:06.96.

Bye triumphed in the 200 Yard Freestyle, clocking in at 2:21.04. She also finished first in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 1:05.00.

Hannah Kimmick (Youngwood, PA/Hempfield) also recorded a pair of individual first places, as she won the 1000 Yard Freestyle in 12:47.04 and the 500 Yard Freestyle in 6:17.58.

The Lady Lions wrapped up the meet by coming in first place in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, as the squad of Alexis Franks (Pleasant Gap, PA/Bellefonte), Ariana Paulhamus (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore), Kimmick, and Emily Beam (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) came together for a time of 2:06.22.

Next up, the Penn State Altoona men's and women's swimming teams will host their first of five home meets on Friday, November 3 at 5:00 p.m. That evening, the teams will face non-conference opponent Salisbury University at the Altoona Area High School Pool.