CANTON, Ohio – Penn State Altoona men's swimming kicked off its first multi-day event of the 2024-25 season on Thursday, when the Lions competed in day one of the Malone University Invitational at the Branin Natatorium.

After the opening finals session of the invitational, Penn State Altoona found itself in sixth place out of 14 teams with a score of 154 points.

Penn State Altoona began Thursday night's finals with a solid showing in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, placing fifth when the squad of Shuo Sun (Falls Church, VA/China High Schools), Rocco Solimeo (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt), Lincoln Johnson (Huntingtown, MD/Huntingtown), and Adam Dotts (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) came together for a time of 1:27.83.

Caden Traggiai (Sarver, PA/Knoch) qualified for the 'A' final of the next swim, the 500 Yard Freestyle, and finished in fifth place with a time of 4:49.47. Nick Trabucco (Carlisle, PA/Boiling Springs) earned a spot in the 'C' final and took 20th place overall with a time of 5:04.52.

Penn State Altoona had a pair of swimmers compete in the 'C' final for the next event, the 200 Yard IM. Sun won the 'C' group and took 17th place overall with a time of 2:02.08, and Benjamin Dotts (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) placed 22nd after clocking in at 2:06.16.

In the 50 Yard Freestyle, Adam Dotts made the 'B' cut and placed 16th overall with a time of 22.13, while Johnson competed in the 'C' final and took 22nd place with a time of 22.52.

In the night's final event, the 400 Yard Medley Relay, the Lions clinched a sixth-place finish when the team of Eugene Heyman (Boiling Springs, PA/Boiling Springs), Brian Nguyen (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township), Hunter McMullen (Colver, PA/Central Cambria), and Solimeo combined for a time of 3:39.85.

Penn State Altoona men's swimming gets back in action tomorrow, Friday, November 22, for day two of the Malone Invitational. Friday's round of preliminaries is set to start at 10 a.m., with the evening finals session scheduled for 6:30 p.m.