In hopes of qualifying more swimmers for the Eastern Seaboard Championships next month, the men's swimming and diving team will meet LaSalle (7-3) and St. Bonaventure (5-2) at 1 tomorrow afternoon in McCoy Natatorium.

"A lot of the younger guys are going to shave and clip and it's going to be an interesting experience for them after a tough college year and making that adjustment from high school," junior Walter Sopp said. "A lot of the older guys are just trying to swim fast and get ready for the big meets coming up, like Easterns and hopefully NCAAs for a lot of us."

Prior to the meet, the team's final dual meet at the natatorium this season, the squad's seven senior members will be honored.

Earlier this season, the Bonnies scored 129 points in the Penn State Invitational and finished fourth while the Lions (4-3) finished second with 494.

The Lions also defeated the Explorers, 123-107, last year. LaSalle and St. Bonaventure will meet for the first time tomorrow.

"I think it's going to be close between us and St. Bonaventure," LaSalle coach John Lyons said. "Penn State has us beat in depth."

"They don't have the across the board depth that we have, but both teams have some people that can get the job done in good fashion," Coach Peter Brown said. "Each race will feature some good competition for us."

Although the Lions may win the meet, Lyons said a LaSalle win against the Bonnies is within reach. He will swim his most competitive lineup in preparation for a conference matchup next week.

St. Bonaventure coach Kevin McNamee knows his team is not on Penn State's level, but believes the competition will force the Bonnies to rise to the occasion.

"Teamwise we can't compete with Penn State," he said. "But we have a pocket of kids who can compete successfully at that level and we need that kind of competition to be ready for NCAA qualifying at the end of the year.

"We know going in that we have to be realistic about the outcome of the meet," he added, "but we're not going to go down and dance with these people. We're going to try to wreck their day in as many events as we can. But we certainly know that we ca Other than the Lion seniors, at least one other swimmer is looking forward to tomorrow's meet. LaSalle distance freestyler Matt Hettche, a State College native, will compete in the 500-yard and 1,000 freestyles.

Lyons expects the sophomore to attract local support upon his return to Happy Valley.

Pat Hettche, Matt's mother, said she is telling people about her son's meet tomorrow. Last year she got about 20 people to watch LaSalle swim Penn State.