Fran McDermid knows the feeling of competing for the white and blue of Penn State. If things go well today, she will also know the feeling of competing for the red, white and blue of the United States.

McDermid, along with Women's Swimming Coach Bob Krimmel and Assistant Coach Mary Bolich, left for Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday evening, along with the hopes and good wishes of the women's swimming team.

Today McDermid will compete in the 200 freestyle against some of the best women swimmers in the country at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

"It'll be real interesting," Bolich said. "It's U.S. swimming, not just collegiate swimming -- there's a lot of younger swimmers involved, too."

Krimmel said the trials will be a very positive experience for McDermid.

"For her, (the experience) is the greatest thing," he said. "Just to see the whole spectacle -- the color, the pagentry, the noise, the crowd. The crowd is unparalleled for women's swimming, and the attention that's focused on swimming for that period of time. And she'll be right in the middle of it."

"It's such an amazing meet," McDermid said. "If anyone's going to have an incredible meet during their swimming career it would be at Olympic Trials. It's the thing that everyone shoots for. It'll be interesting to see."

The pool at the trials will be 50 meters long, as compared to the 25-yard pools used in collegiate swimming.

"We'll have to see how she adjusts to it," Krimmel said. "There are swimmers who are able to overcome that. If anyone can, she can."

"I trained long-course all summer and then over Christmas (break)," McDermid said. "So hopefully that'll help me."

The coaches agreed that it is difficult to make any predictions, but there are plenty of possibilities.

"She's definitely the kind of person that swims with the level of the competition," Krimmel said. "She'll swim well, we have no doubt."

"Fran's a pretty impressive athlete," Bolich said. "You never know what she's going to do."

Only the top two finishers in the 200 free will be accepted to the U.S. Olympic Team.

"Everyone dreams of making the team," McDermid said. "Everyone dreams of finishing first or second.

"I'm excited that I can go out there and let everyone know that Penn State is around. Hopefully I can do well. You just have to go out and do the best you can."

Note: The Lady Lions defeated Villanova, 149-24, in an invitational meet Saturday. Villanova swam in only three of the 14 events. No Penn State swimmers or relay teams lowered their times for the NCAA championships. NCAA invitations will be released March 12.