Pitt Men Beat Maryland, Penn State

Strong swims leads to a first-place finish for Pitt’s men’s swimming and diving team at the conclusion of their two-day meet at Trees Pool. The Panthers improved to 4-3 on the season with wins over Maryland (253-100) and Penn State (197-156).
 
This afternoon’s victory was the first win over Penn State since 2003-04 (125-118) and the first over Maryland since 2007-08 (178-170).
 
In the final event of the day, the 400 free relay team of sophomore Jake Lucas, sophomore Otto Pagel, senior Justin Corvin and junior Andrzej Dubiel won another exciting race, after regaining the lead in the final lap of the race. Dubiel trailed a second behind a Penn State’s swimmer at the exchange, but recorded a split of 44.29, anchoring the team to a 3:01.10 victory.
 
The Panthers also swept two events on the day. First, junior Zane Mclain opened the meet with a first-place finish on the 1M board. His score of 315.80 points led the way, as classmates Collin Forner and Charlie Hauser placed second and third.
 
Then, Lucas was the first of three Panthers to finish the 50 free. Lucas won the event at 21.07 and Pagel placed second a few lanes down. Corvin would finish third overall in the event, after winning the first heat at 21.26.
 
Pagel would also place second in the 200 free, while freshman Hussein Medhat trailed for fourth in the same event. In another second-place performance, sophomore Rousseau Kluever turned in a 1:52.61 performance in the 200 fly.
 
Senior Jonathan Buchanan outlasted the rest of the field, winning the 200 IM with a season-best time of 1:53.52. His split of 26.72 in the 50 free during the medley lifted him to the victory.
 
Sophomore Nick Sharp held on through the final lap of the 200 breast to place second in the event. Buchanan and senior Charlie Zettel slipped in behind him for third and fourth overall.       
 
Earlier in the meet, Pitt’s 400 medley relay team placed second in the first swimming event of the day. The team of freshman Adam Maczewski, Buchanan, Lucas and Dubiel finished with a time of 3:21.83. Dubiel was also third in the 200 back.
 
Maczewski and Buchanan were named the Performers of the Meet at the conclusion of the contest.
 
The Panthers’ next meet is on Saturday, Jan. 23, as they will make a short trip down Forbes Ave. for a contest against Duquesne.