Traveling to the 49th annual Eastern Seaboard Championships with hopes of a victory, the men's swimming and diving team is ready to give Princeton and Harvard a run for its money.

Coach Peter Brown said the task of choosing a field of 19 swimmers and two divers to represent Penn State at the event, which will be held March 3-5, was not easy because of the team's talent level.

"Based on what has happened this season, it should be a close meet," Brown said. "We're together more as a team. It's not necessarily that we have more talent, it's just that the confidence and spirit is here this year."

Last year, Penn State placed third behind Harvard, which finished second, and Princeton, which won the meet and racked up twice as many points as Penn State. Approximately 30 teams will travel to Blodgett Pool in Harvard, Mass., this season.

The meet also is important because it is the Lions' last chance to qualify swimmers and divers for NCAAs, which will be held March 30-April 1 at Indianapolis.

"It's really hard to qualify before Easterns, because the guys have just begun to taper and shave." Brown explained. "The relays have a legitimate shot, but we are going to need four equally solid legs to stand up under the pressure."

Returning for his fourth Eastern meet, Penn State senior Craig Dies said he expects to do better than in previous years.

"The past couple of years we have gone into the meet with the thought that we could win," he said, adding that this attitude puts too much mental pressure on the team.

"The same is true of qualifying for NCAAs. I'm just not going to think about it. Physically I can do it, but swimming is 99 percent mental."

Sophomore Jack Moss will swim at his second championship meet this season. "I think I am better prepared this season," he said. Getting everyone to swim their best will be Brown's primary focus.

"Place will not be indicative of how we swim," he said. "I just want the guys to be satisfied with their individual and team performances."

"Even if we don't win, we are going to give everybody a scare," Dies added. "We're an up-and-coming team."