W. Swimming heads north of Ivy races

The Penn women's swimming team prepares for this weekend's meet at Yale against the Bulldogs and Dartmouth with as much spunk and energy as ever. The swimmers expect tough competition but are nevertheless looking forward to success at one of their last meets of the season. Though the start of a new semester left the Quakers (2-5) struggling to adjust, the swimmers have devoted themselves to finishing off the season with success. "We've reached a turn-around point," senior co-captain Lauren Hibbert said. "At this point, people are positive, upbeat, excited and ready to compete." With the Ivy League championships just two meets away, coach Kathy Lawlor-Gilbert is forced to decide which 18 swimmers will travel, with her decision largely depending on this weekend's individual performances. "A lot of kids are swimming with a lot on the line this weekend," she said. But having faith in her team, she wants the swimmers to do what they've been doing all season. "They've been tenacious going after other teams," Lawlor-Gilbert said. "This weekend I just want the kids to jump up and race and not to be rattled by Harvard's speed." Lawlor-Gilbert feels that both meets will be tough but she especially looks forward to a tight struggle against Dartmouth. "It will take a team-wide effort in terms of racing," junior co-captain Jen Walsh said. "Our meet last weekend against Navy was good practice for this meet." Reminding Lawlor-Gilbert of winning teams she coached in the past, the swimmers this season are some of the toughest and most enjoyable that she has coached. This weekend's meet will be an opportunity for the team to showcase its spirit. "A young team with a large group of freshmen girls, we have a new energy, which is refreshing," Hibbert said. "We're spunky, energetic and positive all the time."