When opposing teams line up for a backstroke event against the women's swimming and diving team, their goal most likely is to finish second.

The reason for this pessimistic mentality -- first place belongs to sophomore Lori Williams.

Williams has won at least one backstroke event in every meet this season. In addition, she won the 200-yard backstroke at the nationally-recognized Princeton Invitational late last year. A never-ending will to improve is the key to her success.

"She's always in great condition because of her work ethic," Coach Bob Krimmel said. "She really concentrates on swimming 12 months a year. When you put that kind of time and effort into it, the returns are what she is getting now."

"I try to work on my kick a lot at practice," Williams added. "I concentrate on doing the last half of a race better than the first half."

Williams is from Northampton, a town near Allentown which is coincidentally near Krimmel's home area. So it is not surprising that the Lady Lions' coach knew a lot about Williams and how she could be a backstroker of the future.

"My sister-in-law works in the school, so I've been hearing a lot about Lori Williams for a long time," Krimmel said. "We probably knew more about her than a lot of the kids that come here."

Many recruiting offers came to Northampton H.S. for Williams. But having the opportunity to be on one of the nation's best teams was an offer she wasn't going to pass up.

"I was recruited to be the top backstroker, because they knew that they were losing Denise Sonntag," Williams said.

As a freshman, Williams broke the Penn State's record in the 200 backstroke (2:04.25), which was held previously by Sonntag, the Lady Lions' former queen-of-the-backstroke, with 2:04.42. Not only was Williams excited to break the record, she was a little surprised.

"I came in here expecting to be a 100 backstroker," she said. "And all of a sudden, I just did that time."

But that record-breaking day was just one of the highlights of Williams' freshman season. She also was a member of the 400 medley relay team with Kathleen Dick, Fran McDermid and Kristin Lilly -- a quartet which won the event at the Eastern Women's Swimming League Championships.

"She's got talent and she has that desire that's there," Krimmel said. "When kids have that talent and desire they tend to develop pretty early."

Krimmel was also quick to point out that he has been surprised by her quick development in the 200 backstroke.

This season, Williams is also a part of the "fantastic four" in the 200 medley relay. She teams with Lilly, Jen Baird and Sharon Detering to form a possible Eastern-championship and national-qualifying team.

The team has an excellent one-two punch in the backstroke. Along with Williams, freshman Janet Worobel has had a tremendous season so far, and Krimmel hopes the two to dominate at Easterns, scheduled for Feb. 21-23.

As for the future, more specifically, the rest of the season, both Williams and Krimmel are expecting a lot in the postseason.

"Lori's definitely an NCAA person," Krimmel said. "She's got her mind set that's where she wants to go, and there's no reason she shouldn't be there."

"I'm hoping for an Eastern Championship, and at least to make NCAA on the medley relay." Williams added. "I also want to try to break the 100 and 200 backstroke records."

And with faster times this year, both records could fall before the season ends.