UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State men's swimmers Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.) and Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.) garnered their first career Big Ten weekly awards on Tuesday (Feb. 7) afternoon. The awards are also the first for Penn State in the 2011-12 season.
Grier was apart of six first place finishes in seven races this weekend as Penn State swept Buffalo and Lehigh. Grier posted a season-best time against Buffalo in the 200 free and had an outstanding afternoon against Lehigh, winning four times including the 200 medley relay, 100 back and 400 freestyle relay. Grier swam a season-best 48.20 in the 100 backstroke, a NCAA B-cut time, while also posting a 2012 best in the 100 freestyle.
Savoy also had another impressive weekend, winning all three events against Buffalo as part of the 400 medley relay, 200 IM and 200 back. He stepped out of his comfort zone on Saturday against Lehigh, winning the 200 free, while finishing second in both the 100 free and in the 400 free relay.
Grier is Penn State's first Swimmer of the Week since Oct. 29, 2009 when Brian Alden (Lansdale, Pa.) took home conference honors. Savoy is the first Penn State Freshman of the Week. The award was recently added to the weekly awards program during the season.
Penn State is in preparations for the Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships, set for Feb. 22-25. The University of Iowa is playing host this season to both Big Ten championships with the women competing Feb. 15-18 in Iowa City, Iowa.