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Freshman Kathleen Holthaus and the rest of the Penn women's swimming team closed out their regular season with two victories last weekend. (Will Burhop/DP File Photo)

In the last meet of the regular season, the Penn women's swimming team secured its winning season with victories over La Salle,134-103, and Duquesne, 152-81, on Saturday. The Quakers ended their 2000-2001 campaign with a 7-4 overall record, despite dropping three of their seven Ivy League contests. This mark was an improvement on last season's 6-6 overall and 2-5 league record. The meet against the Explorers and the Dukes was the last chance for many of the Penn swimmers to perform all season. Due to NCAA regulations, only half of the team can be taken to the Ivy League Championships on February 22-24. "The girls that were rested swam really well," Penn tri-captain Cathy Holland said. "The focus was really on them." And with the help of the rested girls, the Quakers were able to completely dominate the meet. The Red and Blue captured first or second in 9-of-11 pool events. "We were confident about how we would swim," Penn freshman Hilary North said. "We didn't think it would be a rough meet to win, so the focus was just to see where people were and to swim fast." The Quakers were led by senior Patty Walsha, who won the 200 Individual Medley in 2:13.32, and the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.07. Penn freshman Linda Fescoe continued her dominance in the sprint events, winning both the 50 free and the 100 free, while fellow newcomer North picked up a win in the 200 back with a time of 2:14.51. "This was really a great meet. It seemed like everyone was having fun in and out of the pool," Holland said. "It was good to have as a last meet because everyone got to swim a lot and they swam very well." Unfortunately, Penn's coaches are annually forced to shave the team down to half its size. Inevitably, it is difficult to split such a close team. Those who posted the better times in the previous part of the season will continue on to the Ivy Championship meet, where the Quakers will look to improve on their results from last year. "It is definitely hard because everyone obviously wants to go," Holland said. "But everyone is a part of the team and influences the team. That's what its been all about this season -- the team." Those who are now finished with their season have no intention of disappearing, though. They will be around for workouts and support. "This is not a separation. We are still a cohesive group of people," North said. "Most of the people not swimming will go to the Championships anyway to support the team." Those that will be swimming at the Ivy Championships are now at a crucial stage of training. The key to a successful meet for the Quakers will be rest. Not only is the team toning down workouts in the pool, they are also preparing mentally for the biggest meet of the season. "It's important to just go to bed earlier, get more rest and get work done," Holland said. "We're also trying not to focus on the meet too much and stay excited about it." The Red and Blue have finished last at the Championships in each of the past nine seasons.

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