Penn swims final meet before Easterns

Quakers expect to meet Army again in two weeks at Easterns. Coming off a successful week where they won two of their three meets, the Penn women's swimming and diving team team is ready for their last meet of the season against a strong Army team in West Point, N.Y. Although Penn (3-7) defeated Army last year, this season both the Quakers and the Black Knights (5-3) have greatly improved. This Saturday's meet at noon should be a more competitive and difficult meet for both teams. It is a matchup in which neither team is a clear favorite. From this past week's meets against Johns Hopkins and Rutgers, in which Penn's women swimmers defeated two quality teams, the team has gained more confidence which should give them an extra edge for the meet. No one is denying that this weekend's meet will be one of their closest yet, but all are looking forward to the tough competition. Because this is the last regular-season meet for both teams, Penn and Army will be using it as preparation for the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League Championships in Princeton in two weeks. The key races in Saturday's meet will be the 100-backstroke, the 200-, 500- and 1,000-freestyle races. Quakers assistant coach Mike Schnur says that if Penn "takes three out of the four races, then we'll win." Those four races will be critical for a successful outcome this Saturday. Army will be well-rested for this weekend's meet and should have plenty of momentum carried over from the narrow and exciting victory at Dartmouth last weekend. Army is also preparing for their Patriot League championships, which are a week away, at West Point. In addition, the Black Knights will be swimming at Easterns, in which all the other Ivy League schools and Army and Navy compete. One disadvantage that Penn's swim team will have to overcome is the three-hour, early-morning bus ride to the Hudson Valley. Schnur added that Penn had already traveled to many meets and that this shouldn't be a new challenge. The women will be ready. "Army is a strong team, and we'll see what we can do," Penn head coach Kathy Lawlor-Gilbert said. Everyone associated with the Penn women's swimming team is looking forward to the tough meet and to coming home with a final victory to help give them an extra advantage going into Easterns.