Audrey Cohen, the 2023-24 Maine Interscholastic Swim League’s Swimmer of the Year, competed for Penn State University in the TYR Pro Series Toyota US Open, recently held in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Hosted by USA Swimming, the TYR Pro Series attracts many of America’s elite and top swimmers.
The 2024 Greely High graduate, the only freshman among the four PSU women who raced for the Nittany Lions in the four-day trials and finals competition, competed in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke events.
In the 200 yard breaststroke, Cohen finished sixth (2:14.15), five-tenths faster than her trial time. Maine’s interscholastic record holder in the 100 yard breaststroke placed 11th in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.97), a 10th off her trial time of (1:01.88). Both her trial and final swims were faster than her Maine interscholastic record of 1:03.27.
Cohen’s breaststroke performances, exceeding the times she projected for this phase of the season, matched her longer-term season goals.
“Meeting the goals has given me confidence,” she said.
Cohen, one of 15 swimmers in PSU’s sprint group, swims from 6-7:30 a.m. four mornings a week followed by the daily 3-5 p.m. afternoon swim practice. In addition, her sprint group trains in the weight room multiple mornings a week.
“I enjoy all of it,’’ she said.
Despite the fullness of her daily training and class schedule, the pre-med major, an active volunteer during her school years at Greely, volunteers with THON, a student managed philanthropy group on campus that raises money for children affected by childhood cancer.
During the TYR meet, the 2023-24 Maine interscholastic champion in the 200 individual medley (2:08.37) entered time trials in both the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle events, clocking 23.42 and 51.04, respectively. The 50 free time was more than a full second faster than her lead-off leg (24.21) on the 200 free relay at last year’s Maine Interscholastic State Meet.
“I was pretty surprised with my 50 free,” Cohen said.
With two of her three individual events set for February’s Big Ten Championship, hosted by Ohio State, Cohen suggested she and her coaches will consider the 50 free along with the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly as a possible third event.
“It has been a great season. I am surrounded by such amazing teammates and fast swimmers,” said the 2023 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches All American.
Last season, following Cohen’s selection as Swimmer of the Year, Greely High Coach Rob
Hale highlighted Cohen’s team focus.
“She wants to swim for the team. She is very team oriented,’’ he said
Swimming for the Nittany Lions, Cohen continues to display a strong team orientation.
Her breaststroke training partner recently swam a best time. Cohen shared her reaction to her training partner’s achievement.
“To see her swim a best time after two years of hard training was really exciting. I would not be able to swim at a high level without my teammates,” Cohen said.
In an email for this story, Hale expressed confidence in his former swimmer and noted her continued impact on Greely High swimming.
“Audrey’s progress has not surprised me. It appears she has adjusted to the next level both physically and mentally. No situation is too big for her. She continues to motivate us from afar.
She keeps in touch with the team and celebrates our successes,” Hale wrote.
Penn State returns to competition Jan. 11 against Northwestern University and the University of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois.