The women's swimming and diving team would be severely lacking if not for its depth. And that depth would be severely lacking if not for Suzi Sloan.

On several occasions this year, Sloan has improved on season-best times and has posted lifetime bests as well.

Her effort and success have not gone unnoticed.

"Suzi's done extremely well," Coach Bob Krimmel said. "She's stuck with it, and if you persevere long enough, you begin to see results. She's had some super meets. We've known all along she could do it.

"With Suzi, whatever she does, she does 110 percent. There's never a question of intensity."

Hampered somewhat by her health last year, the junior has proven her worth to this year's team by swimming in a variety of freestyle events and relays -- and she has consistently improved.

"I like being able to vary," Sloan said. "I like the middle distances --the 200 (yards) and 500, but I can go up or down. You get tired swimming the same distance all the time."

"Suzi (swims) up to the mile and down to the 50 for us," Krimmel said. "It gives us versatility, (but) it's demanding to be in that role, and we may have been a little unfair with that. Next year we hope to keep her in one spot. She's in a position to have an excellent year next year."

Sloan swam a lifetime best 10 minutes 24.65 seconds in the 1,000 free against American University, where she finished only .04 seconds out of first place.

"She had such a great meet against American," Krimmel said. "It really lifted the whole team."

Despite strong performances this season, Sloan said she was not particularly happy with her times at the Big Ten Championships where she failed to make finals in any events she swam.

"I didn't do horrible," she said. "(My times) didn't go up, I just didn't do as well as I wanted."

Sloan admits to being a quiet person --she simply does what needs to be done.

"I don't say much at team meetings -- I'm not outspoken," she said. "I just try to work hard in the pool and stay positive in practice."

The Pittsburgh native is also very modest. She is quick to point out that her performances this season have been "a little sporadic" and that she only swims freestyle, which she feels does not make her versatile.

"Suzi has the tendency to underestimate her ability," Krimmel said. "If she has one fault, that's probably it -- she's too modest."

Sloan also swims in the freestyle relay, and her relay teams have earned Penn State valuable points in dual meets.

"The first-place points and the depth points compliment each other," Krimmel said. "We couldn't win a dual meet with five or six people. You need the depth. Everyone is important. Everyone makes a contribution."

"I realize I'm not a fantastic swimmer like Fran (McDermid)," Sloan said. "(But) just being a part of the team is important. Just to score for the team means a lot to me."

Sloan's attitude and goals are simple, and characteristically modest.

"I want to be the best I can and I'll be satisfied no matter what I do," she said.