Oct. 17, 2007
University Park, Pa. - The Penn State men's and women's swimming and diving teams will open their 2007-08 season on Thursday, October 18 by hosting a dual meet against West Virginia at McCoy Natatorium. Action gets underway at 4:00 p.m. at the Nat. This will mark the fourth straight year that Penn State will open its season with a dual meet against West Virginia. The women's team has been victorious in each of the past three years while the men's squad has won two out of three dual meets over the Mountaineers.
Thursday's meet will kick off what is sure to be a busy year for most of Penn State's swimmers. In addition to the usual regular season that will culminate with Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships in February and March, respectively, 2008 is also an Olympic year, which means Olympic Trials will be held in the months leading up to the games in Bejing, China next summer. A total of 21 current members of the Penn State men's and women's swimming teams have already qualified for Olympic Trials, 18 for U.S. Olympic Trials and three others for Olympic trials in their respective native countries.
The meet against WVU is also the first of three home meets for the Nittany Lions this year. Penn State will also host Virginia, Michigan State and Purdue at McCoy the weekend of November 9-10. In January, they will also host West Chester.
Kailey Morris is one of several returning All-Americans or honorable mention All-Americans for the women's squad. |
Penn State swimming and diving fans are encouraged to listen to exclusive GoPSUsports.com podcasts with Penn State head swimming coach Bill Dorenkott throughout the season. Coach Dorenkott taped his first podcast of the year two weeks ago and will be conducting more throughout the 2007-08 season. Podcasts are available by clicking at the link at the bottom of the swimming pages while all Penn State podcasts are available on the podcast page of GoPSUsports.com