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A native of Elkton, Maryland, Elizabeth Pennington has announced that she will be crossing the Delaware River this fall, committing to swim at DIII Rowan University in nearby Glassboro, New Jersey. The 2020 1A/2A/3A Maryland state champion in the 100 back, Pennington is currently in her final year at Elkton High School.
“I am happy to officially announce that I will be continuing my academic and swimming career at Rowan University! I want to thank God, my family, my friends, and my coaches that have helped me get here! Go Profs!”
In the spring of 2020, Pennington claimed the state title in the 100 back by a huge margin, touching in 57.11 for the gold medal. The silver medal in the event went to Sophie Elliot, who will be swimming for Carnegie Mellon this fall. Pennington also added a second top-8 finish in the 100 fly, touching in 5th with a time of 58.85. During her freshman year, she also had a pair of solid finishes, grabbing 3rd in the 100 back (1:01.19) and 6th in the 200 IM (2:19.42).
Most recently, Pennington posted a pair of lifetime best times while competing at the 2021 Maryland Eastern Shore Invitational. Pennington swam the fastest times of the meet in both the 200 back and 200 IM. In the back, she won handily, touching in a time of 2:03.22. Meanwhile, in the fly, she won a much tighter race in 2:19.80. She also competed in the 100 back (59.53), 50 free (26.31), and 100 fly (59.81).
Top SCY Times
- 50 free – 26.26
- 100 free – 55.17
- 200 free – 1:58.41
- 100 back – 57.11
- 200 back – 2:03.22
- 100 fly – 58.85
- 200 fly – 2:19.80
- 200 IM – 2:14.97
While Rowan didn’t compete last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, her lifetime bests would be a huge addition to the program halfway through the 2021-22 school year. So far this season, she would lead the team in both backstrokes, the 100 fly, and the 200 IM. Her times in the 100 and 200 freestyles would also make her a key member of the program’s 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
At the last Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Championships, held in February of 2020, Rowan pulled off a narrow victory over The College of New Jersey. Pennington’s lifetime best times would have put her into the A-final of the 100 and 200 butterfly and 100 and 200 backstroke. In the 200 back, she would have come away with conference title by a wide margin, with her lifetime best being over four seconds faster than the winning time.
Pennington is a huge addition to Rowan program, with a time in the 200 back that is already faster than the program record. She’s not far off from the 100 back record either, with her best time being less than a second off from the current record.
Rowan is led by Elise Blaschke, who is in just her second at the helm of the program. Blaschke joined the Profs in 2013 as an assistant coach before taking over the program for the 2019-2020 season.
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