It was a real sleeper. Worth bringing two pillows and a blanket.

The men's swimming and diving team finished its dual-meet season on Saturday afternoon, crushing Shippensburg 175-63 at McCoy Natatorium. The win gives the Lions a five-meet winning streak going into the Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis, starting next Thursday. It was also Senior Recognition Day for the Lions, as Phil Meyer, Nick Boyce, Tim Boyd and Mike Westwood were honored before the last home dual meet of their careers.

"(The seniors) have done a great job for us for four years," Swimming Coach Peter Brown said. "They've been one of the most consistent groups we've had here."

Brown chose to keep most of his top swimmers out of their stronger individual events for the meet, giving them a chance to get some extra rest. But even spotting the Red Raiders that handicap couldn't keep the score even remotely close.

The rout started with the 200-yard medley relay, as Penn State went 1-2-3 in the race, with the team of Boyce, James Sloat, Thad Davis and Ed Adelman winning in a time of 1:32.65. Penn State sweeps in the individual events came in the 400 individual medley, with Matt Meyers (4:11.88) leading Lucas Shelly and Mike Renzoni, and in the 200 breaststroke, as Mike Smith (2:07.23) just out-touched Erik Ward and Tim Pfeuffer. The Lions also finished 1-2-3 in the 200 free relay, with the team of Boyce, Adam Carroll, Boyd and Meyer winning in 1:24.66.

The divers added to the previously mentioned sweeps in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. Chris Devine won the 1-meter event, with Westwood second and Ryan Smith third. Westwood and Devine traded places in the 3-meter event, with Smith again third.

Also scoring individual wins for the Lions were Shelley in the 1,000 freestyle (9:36.96), Ned Walsh in the 200 free (1:44.21), Andy Sliver in both the 50 free (21.71) and the 100 free (47.42), Kirk Skoglund in the 200 backstroke (1:55.87) and Jason Eby in the 500 free (4:39.59).

But with just ten days left until the conference championships, there's little time left to get ready for the team's biggest meet of the year.

"We're really trying to get geared up for Big Tens," Boyd said.