By Chelsea Howard, Sophomore Swimmer

As we get underway with our dual meet season, it's now more than ever that we rely on a competitive attitude. We've been doing new things in the pool and in the weight room to prepare us for these opportunities to get up and race.

 This week we are preparing to take on the University of Virginia and Indiana University. Last year, we traveled to Virginia for the tri-meet, battled tough, but came out short of a victory. This year, however, we are hosting these two teams in our own pool and are looking for a different result.

While traveling to another pool is always a unique opportunity and fun experience, there's something special about being a host team for a meet like this. We take away the hours of riding a bus and living out of a suit case for a few nights and focus our energy more on what's about to take place. No experience can amount to what it's like to run out of the locker room to "Zombie Nation", forming a jumping mob filled with indescribable energy, doing a cowbell cheer and then lining the side of the pool to cheer on our teammates and face our supportive fans in the stands. We are all excited to see what's to come and are looking forward to the weekend.

 Despite all of the events that have occurred in the media this past week, our team has come together and remembered what it really means to be a Penn Stater. We haven't lost our school pride, if anything it's stronger than before. Everyone involved with the athletic department has done an excellent job explaining the situation and has been open to helping anyone in need. They've reminded us to stay focused with our sport and class work and to avoid getting too caught up in the media. Several of us went to support the women's soccer team as they began the NCAA championship on Friday and then we went to the candle light vigil. It gave me chills to be a part of such a large movement, all in honor of the victims, and reminded me the outstanding community you are a part of when you become a Nittany Lion.