Feb. 15, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Penn State women's swimming & diving team will kick off the Big Ten Championships on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. when the Nittany Lions hit the pool for the first day of the four-day event at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center on the campus of Indiana University.
The Big Ten will be holding championships in 21 events beginning with the 200-medley and 800-freestyle relays on Wednesday evening. During the last three days of the competition, trials begin at 11 a.m. with finals taking place at 6:30 in the evening.
All-Session tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for youth and students. Tickets for single sessions are $8 for adults and $5 for youth and students. They can be purchased through the IU Athletics ticket office at 1-866-487-7678.
Live results for the meet are available through Indiana's website at IUHoosiers.com. The Big Ten Network will also broadcast the championships on tape delay on Saturday, February 26 at noon.
The Nittany Lions enter the conference meet after piecing together a strong regular season. Overall, Penn State went 7-2 in dual meet action, including a perfect 5-0 in the New Year. The squad split its two match-ups against Big Ten opponents after falling to Indiana, 195-158, before trumping Michigan, 123-120.
Entering the Big Ten Championships, Alexandra Young currently has the conference's fastest time in the 200-fly after clocking in at 1:57.38 earlier in the year. Amy Modglin and Mackenzie Powers have also excelled during the 2010-11 campaign as Modglin holds the second-fastest time in the 200-backstroke, while Powers is second in the 100-fly.
Not to be outdone, Paige Whitmire ranks third in the conference in the 50-freestyle and fourth in the 100-backstroke. Chelsea Weedman also has a pair of strong performances on her résumé as she currently sits in third in the 200-IM and fourth in the 400.
Over the last 10 years, the Nittany Lions have been a force at the title meet. During that time, the squad has captured three titles, including back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006. The squad has also finished in the top-three eight times over that stretch.
Last season, Penn State placed seventh at the meet but had several outstanding performances by its freshman class. Modglin was a finalist in the 200-backstroke and 400-IM, while Merritt Krawczyk was a top performer in the 200-breaststroke and 200-IM. Whitmire also placed sixth in the 50-freestyle.