Jan. 25, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's swimming & diving team entered the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America Top-25 poll for the first time this season as the Nittany Lions garnered 39 points and settled in at 25th in the national rankings.
Penn State vaulted into the top-25 while riding an impressive streak since the start of the New Year. In 2011, the Nittany Lions are 4-0, highlighted by a sweep at the University of Maryland meet during which the squad beat Pittsburgh as well as the host Terrapins and Villanova, who are both receiving votes in the national poll.
Overall, Penn State sits at 6-2 this season. The squad also placed fourth in the prestigious Georgia Invitational in December.
Sophomore Amy Modglin has been at the forefront of the team's success. During the season, she has cruised to 13 victories, including five in the 200-backstroke. In that event, she currently has the second-fastest time in the Big Ten and the 14th best in the nation.
The squad has also been especially impressive in the butterfly. In the 100-yard event, Mackenzie Powers has the second-fastest time in the Big Ten after posting a time of 54.09 during the Georgia Invitational. Not to be outdone, Alexandra Young has the best time in the 200-fly after clocking in at 1:57.38.
Among other top performers, Chelsea Weedman has a top-five time in both medley events, Paige Whitmire is near the top in the 50-freestyle and 100-backstroke, Merritt Krawczyk is a dominant competitor in the breaststroke, and Samantha Palser ranks fifth in the 100-free.
Overall, the Big Ten is well represented in the national poll with seven teams in the top-25. Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Purdue are tightly bunched in the middle of the poll with all six squads falling between 13th and 19th. Northwestern and Iowa are also receiving votes.
Stanford sits atop the standings with 23 first-place votes. Georgia and USC, who are also garnering support for the top spot, round out the top-three.
Penn State will return to action on Saturday when the Nittany Lions travel to Ann Arbor for a showdown with Michigan beginning at 11 a.m.