ERIE, Pa. — Penn State Behrend head coach Joe Tristan speaks with former Lions’ standout Tara (Braden) Hittepole who graduated in 2004.
A native of Pittsburgh, she was a two-sport athlete at Penn State Behrend, making her mark on the swimming and diving team as well as the water polo team from 2000-04. She was a part of the inaugural women’s water polo team, scoring 27 goals and adding 27 assists, with 12 drawn kickouts and 138 steals. In swimming and diving, Braden held the Top 10 times in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, along with the top times in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 and 800 freestyle relays. Braden was a three-time Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) All-Academic choice and four-time Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Scholar-Athlete Selection. She was honored with the Sportsmanship & Leadership Award and Behrend’s Female Athlete of the Year Award.
