Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Villanova Career: Competed for the Wildcats from 2016-21 and had success in the sprint freestyle events … Two-time BIG EAST champion in the 200 yard freestyle relay after swimming the third leg of the relay at the conference championships his freshman and sophomore years … As a sophomore in 2018 was part of a school-record performance in the 200 free on a team that had a winning time of 1:20.78 … During his career was a seven-time All-BIG EAST performer in the relays and an eight-time BIG EAST scorer in his individual events … Recorded personal best marks in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle as well as the 100 yard breaststroke and 100 yard butterfly over the course of his collegiate career.
 
2020-21: Swam on three of the team’s All-BIG EAST relays at the conference championships … Scored individually at the BIG EAST meet with top-eight finishes in both the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle … Had the Wildcats fastest times of the season in both the 50 free and the 100 free … Anchored the 200 yard medley relay to a third place finish on the first night of the BIG EAST Championships … Had a split of 20.02 on the 50 yard freestyle leg of the relay and Villanova eventually posted a time of 1:30.76 in the race … In the final event of the meet anchored the 400 yard freestyle relay and had  split of 45.98 as the Wildcats came in third in the relay in 3:04.65 … Led off the 200 yard freestyle relay with a 50 free split of 20.68 as Villanova came in third in 1:22.73 …  In his individual events came in fourth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free … Posted a time of 20.65 in the final of the 50 free after he ranked third overall with a personal best time of 20.58 in the preliminary heats … Posted times of 45.89 in the prelims and 46.05 in the final of the 100 free.
 
2019-20: Did not compete at any meets.
 
2018-19: Did not compete at any meets.
 
2017-18: Helped the Wildcats win a BIG EAST title in the 200 yard freestyle relay and set a school record with a winning time of 1:20.78 … Swam the third leg of the relay with a split of 19.99 … Earned All-BIG EAST honors in both the 200 free relay and the 400 yard freestyle relay … Anchored the 400 free relay with a split of 45.40 and Villanova finished third in the race with a time of 3:01.01 … Scored in all three of his individual events at the conference championships … Top finish was fourth place in the final of the 100 yard butterfly, where he touched the wall in a season-best time of 49.50 … Came in sixth in the final of the 50 yard freestyle after also ranking sixth with a season-best time of 20.73 in the preliminary heats … Qualified for the ‘B’ final in the 100 yard freestyle and came in ninth with a season-best time of 45.70, moving up five spots from where he ranked in the preliminaries … Posted a time of 1:06.60 in the 100 yard breaststroke against La Salle … Tallied a first place finish in the 100 free (49.01) and came in fourth in the 50 free (22.18) against the United States Merchant Marine Academy … Won the 50 free in 21.52 against Ursinus … Runner-up in both the 50 free and the 100 free versus Providence.
 
2016-17: Part of a conference championship performance in the 200 yard freestyle relay and swam a leg of the runner-up 200 yard medley relay at the BIG EAST Championships as a freshman … Villanova set then-school records in both relays … Posted a split of 20.36 on the third leg of the 200 free relay and the Wildcats went on to post a winning time of 1:21.18 to hold off runner-up Seton Hall by 0.12 seconds … Anchored the 200 medley relay with a split of 20.46 on the freestyle leg as Villanova came in second in the race in 1:29.26 … Earned All-BIG EAST honors in both relays and also scored in all three of his individual events at the conference meet … Came in 12^th in the 100 yard freestyle, 13^th in the 50 yard freestyle and 16^th in the 100 yard butterfly … Registered season-best times in the preliminary heats of each event, including 21.05 in the 50 free, 45.89 in the 100 free and 51.07 in the 100 fly .. Posted a time of 54.98 in the 100 yard backstroke at the Hokie Fall Invite … Tallied a first place finish in the 100 free against Providence … Runner-up in the 50 free (21.64) in a quad meet against Rutgers, Georgetown and Seton Hall … Finished second in the 100 free against the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
 
Hershey High School: Earned a total of eight varsity letters during his scholastic career, including four each in swimming and track & field … As a senior was a NISCA All-American and an all-state performer in the 50 yard freestyle … Swam a leg of the 200 yard freestyle relay which earned All-America honors his junior year … Winner of the Most Outstanding Athlete award.
 
Personal: One of three children of Alan and Jennifer Paynter … Has two siblings, Jaren and Maliyah … Both parents played college sports at Kutztown, where father was a member of the football team and mother played field hockey … Likes to read, run and play video games in his spare time … An avid fan of the New England Patriots … Chose to attend Villanova because it was a great school and had a strong swimming & diving program … Hopes to one day become a sports agent.