STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The #14 Penn State's women's swim team came from behind on the final day of competition to win their first Big Ten Championship. The team race came down to the final event of the Championship to decide the outcome. Penn State entered the 400-yard freestyle relay just a mere 1.5 points in front of Indiana University, meaning whichever team placed in front of the other would win the team title. In a thrilling and nerve-racking race, the Nittany Lions placed third, while the Hoosiers were disqualified for jumping the blocks, giving the Lions the team title by 33.5 points. Penn State finished with a final score of 594.5 points.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team consisted of Kristen Weinhold (Durham, N.C.), Barb Mulshine (Cincinnati, Ohio), Deirdre Dlugonski (Washington, Pa.) and Piper Chamberlin (Grand Junction, Colo.). Their time of 3:22.94 was also new school record, bettering the old record of 3:23.32.

The Nittany Lions scored four or more swimmers in four out of the five individual events contested on the final day, which catapulted them to the team title.

Corrie Clark (Malvern, Pa.) led the way by winning her second individual title of the Championship. Clark won the title in the 200-yard breaststroke in a NCAA automatic time of 2:13.06. Kristen Woodring (Sinking Spring, Pa.) placed sixth in a time of 2:15.36, which was a NCAA provisional time. Lindsey Wilson (Novelty, Ohio) and Courtney Stanchock (Bloomsburg, Pa.) placed ninth and 11th in times 2:16.95 and 2:17.83.

The 100-yard freestyle was a crucial event in the Lions title run. In all, five Nittany Lion swimmers were able to score points. Deirdre Dlugonski placed second overall in a NCAA provisional time of 50.51, while Kristen Weinhold finished sixth with a time of 51.19. Penn State's three other scorers were Barb Mulshine, 10th, Larissa Kavchok (Emmaus, Pa.), 14th, and Lindsey Fraschilla (East Fallowfield, Pa.), 16th.

In the first event of the night, Penn State had four swimmers earn NCAA provisional times in the 1650-yard freestyle. Alecia Kornacki (Simpsonville, S.C.) paced the Lions with a seventh place finish in a time of 16:39.37. Sally Anderson (Somerset, N.J.) placed 11th in a time of 16:45.69, which was the third event she scored in the Championship. Meredith Holman (Inman, S.C.) and Krystle Eberwein (Maple Glen, Pa.) rounded out the scorers by placing 14th and 15th in times of 16:50.18 and 16:54.00.

Another important event in Penn State's title run was the 200-yard backstroke. The Nittany Lions had two Lions place in the top five. Katie Bruzda (Latrobe, Pa.) and Erin Mulshenock (New Castle, Del.) swam to fourth and fifth place finishes. Their times of 1:19.17 and 1:59.60 were season bests and NCAA provisional times. Sara Shepherd (Nazareth, Pa.) finished 15th in a provisional time of 2:01.94. Alecia Kornacki placed 16th in a time of 2:03.16.

In all, the Nittany Lions won six events, swam seven NCAA automatic times and had three or more people score in one event eight times during the four days of competition.

The Nittany Lions victory is the 21st Big Ten Championship for Penn State's athletic program.

Coach Dorenkott Quotes:

On First Big Ten Title: It is great feeling. It means a lot to our program and our swimmers. This has been four years in the making. We were 11th five years ago and now we are champions.

On Thrilling Finish: Bittersweet, but we worked hard and competed even harder. We deserve everything we attained and we are all so happy and excited.

Highlights of Championship: The total team effort that everyone put forth. It was the team that won us the Championship. Everyone swimmer gave everything they had.

--LIONS--