After taking a year off to live in Ireland, to compete for them at the Olympics, Shane Ryan picked up the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week for the third time this season. Despite a Penn State loss, Ryan was able to pick up the accolade after winning three events and breaking two pool records. To take the top 100m time in College Swimming so far this year, he took down S. Robinson’s record by posting a time of 46.09. The second record shattered a 2005 Ryan Lochte record in the 100 back in a time of 46.74.
Indiana’s Michael Hixon, Michigan’s Jacob Montague, Penn State’s Shane Ryan and Purdue’s Steele Johnson claim weekly awards
Swimmer of the Week
Shane Ryan, Penn State
Sr. – Havertown, Pa. – Haverford
- Collected six top-five finishes in Penn State’s triple dual meet against Virginia and Michigan, including the fastest 100-yard freestyle time in the country this season (43.09)
- Earned first-place finishes and NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 50-yard freestyle (20.09), the 100-yard freestyle (43.09) and the 100-yard backstroke (47.19)
- Contributed to a pair of second- place marks in the 400-yard medley relay (3:15.23) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (2:59.24)
- Earns his fifth career Swimmer of the Week honor
- Last Penn State Swimmer of the Week: Shane Ryan (Oct. 19, 2016)
Co-Diver of the Week
Michael Hixon, Indiana
Jr. – Amherst, Mass. – Amherst Regional
- Collected a pair of first-place finishes in the one-meter (401.70) and three-meter (464.03) diving events in Indiana’s dual meet against Michigan State
- Recorded NCAA Zone qualifying marks in both events
- Earns his fifth Diver of the Week award
- Last Indiana Diver of the Week: Joshua Arndt (Jan. 27, 2016)
Co-Diver of the Week
Steele Johnson, Purdue
So. – Carmel, Ind. – Laurel Springs
- Swept the diving events in Purdue’s triple dual meet at Iowa, scoring 431.25 in the one-meter event and 417.75 in the three-meter event
- Victorious by 50 points on the one-meter platform and by 69 points on three-meter platform
- Recorded NCAA Zone qualifying marks in both events
- Earns his ninth Diver of the Week award
- Last Purdue Diver of the Week: Steele Johnson (Nov. 2, 2016)
Freshman of the Week
Jacob Montague, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. – Grosse Pointe South
- Earned a pair of victories in Michigan’s dual meet against Penn State, including NCAA provisional qualifying times in both of his individual events
- Touched the wall first in the 100-yard (54.59) and the 200-yard breaststroke (1:58.70)
- Contributed to first- and second-place marks in the 400-yard medley relay (3:14.97) and 200-yard medley relay (1:29.16), respectively
- Earns his second career Freshman of the Week honor
- Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Jacob Montague (Oct. 12, 2016)
2016-17 Big Ten Men’s Swimmer/Diver of the Week
Oct. 5
S: Jack Smith, So., IOWA
D: Brandis Heffner, Sr., IOWA
F: Scott Piper, MSU
Oct. 12
S: Shane Ryan, Sr., PSU
D: Hector Garcia Boissier, So., PSU
F: Jacob Montague, MICH
Oct. 19
S: Shane Ryan, Sr., PSU
D: Matt Barnard, Sr., MINN
F: Justin Temprano, WIS
Oct. 26
S: Blake Pieroni, Jr., IND
D: Steele Johnson, So., PUR
F: Kevin Pomeroy, WIS
Nov. 2
S: Marat Amaltdinov, Jr., PUR
D: Steele Johnson, So., PUR
F: Nick McDowell, PUR
Nov. 9
S: Shane Ryan, Sr., PSU
D: Michael Hixon, Jr., IND
D: Steele Johnson, So., PUR
F: Jacob Montague, MICH
Swim news courtesy of Big Ten.
Shane’s on fire I see top 8 for 50,100 free and 100 back
AWESOME! Thank you for reporting on positive news!