Swimmer Justice Beard Will Join Penn State for 2027
The three-time NCAA champion plans to pursue a master's degree while competing for the Nittany Lions.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Swimming
NCAA champion Justice Beard has announced her transfer to Pennsylvania State University for the 2027-2028 academic year. She will arrive in Pennsylvania this fall to begin a graduate season while completing her master's degree.
Why it matters
Beard joins the program following a successful tenure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, bringing elite-level distance swimming experience to the Nittany Lions. Her arrival aims to bolster Penn State's competitive standing within the Big Ten.
Beard arrives as a three-time NCAA Division II champion, having clocked lifetime bests of 4:48.09 in the 500 free and 9:45.71 in the 1000 free. These marks will be tested against the competitive depth of the Big Ten field.
The players
Justice Beard
A collegiate distance swimmer and three-time NCAA Division II champion transferring to compete for Penn State.
Morgan Moore
A distance swimmer who represented Penn State in the 1650 free at the 2026 Big Ten Championships.
The details
Beard specializes in long-distance freestyle events, utilizing efficient aerobic capacity and stroke cadence to maintain pace over the 1650-yard distance. At Penn State, she will join a roster that finished 13th at the 2026 Big Ten Championships. The team currently looks to improve its 216-point standing through the addition of veteran talent capable of scoring in championship finals.
Timeline
Spring 2025: Beard earned top-eight finishes in three major championship events.
Spring 2026: Beard secured three NCAA Division II titles while at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
2026: Penn State concluded their season with a 13th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.
Fall 2027: Beard begins her graduate swimming season at Pennsylvania State University.
Health Landscape
Elite collegiate athletics continues to see movement between divisions as athletes utilize graduate eligibility to extend their competitive careers. This trend allows programs to integrate experienced competitors into rosters, shifting the traditional four-year development model.
For athletes considering the rigors of graduate-level competition, maintaining long-term physical health requires close monitoring of training volume and recovery protocols. Discuss your specific recovery and nutritional needs with your athletic training staff as you transition between training environments.
The takeaway
The addition of a three-time champion demonstrates the value of experienced talent in collegiate distance swimming. Athletes looking to maintain performance levels during transitions should prioritize consistent baseline physiological monitoring to prevent overtraining.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments across the sport in Swimming.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
