UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Feb. 14, 2006 ¨C The 14th-ranked Penn State women¡¯s swimming and diving team travel to Columbus, Ohio for the 2006 Women¡¯s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. The Lion women will look to defend last year¡¯s conference title and compete for their third Big Ten Championship overall.

The latest CSCAA poll from Jan. 26, 2006 ranks Wisconsin 10th, the Lion women 14th and Indiana 15th. Michigan and Purdue trail their Big Ten rivals 20th and 21st, respectively. The Lion women head into competition with a 9-5 overall record and a 2-1 Big Ten record.

The Lion women were not a favorite going into the 2005 Women¡¯s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships but they put on one of the most impressive performances in recent history to win their second Big Ten Championship with 693 points. The Nittany Lions' point total was the most by any team in the Big Ten Championships since Michigan had 788.5 in 1998, and it was the most ever recorded by a Penn State team. This was the team¡¯s first conference championship since 2002. Penn State head coach Bill Dorenkott was named the Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year, while six Nittany Lion swimmers were named to the all-Big Ten first team, and two more were named to the conference's second team.

Seniors Amberle Biedermann (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Sarah Haupt (Carlisle, Pa.) and Patty Murphy (Medford, N.J.) look to lead their team to another Big Ten Championship. Biedermann garnered Big Ten Swimmer of the Week accolades on Nov. 29, 2005 for her impressive performances in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays against West Chester. She captured her second Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honor on Jan. 10, 2006 after finishing in the top two in all four events she competed in against Florida. Haupt was named Big Ten Co-swimmer of the week on Nov. 15, 2005 after capturing three NCAA ¡°B¡± standard times against Virginia and Auburn.

Ohio State University will be hosting the 2006 Women¡¯s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. Competition begins Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The 200 Medley Relay and 800 Freestyle Relay will take place Wednesday night. Competition will continue through Saturday, Feb. 18 with the last round of competition beginning at 7 p.m.

A complete schedule of events and a link to live results can be found on the Buckeye¡¯s official athletic Web site, www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.