Sweeping away its competition, the women's synchronized swimming team earned first place in the Collegiate State Championships this past weekend at the University of Pennsylvania.

With an overall score of 108 points, the team defeated Millersville and Penn, who scored 97 and 82 points, respectively.

"We had to strategize how to beat Millersville," Assistant Coach Brenda Kline said, adding that Millersville's experience makes the team a tough competitor.

In the figures division, Penn State finished impressively. Novices Melanie Lynch, Maurie Hayes, Sarah Schano and Katie Jervis took first through fourth place, respectively.

"We concentrate a lot of time on the young swimmers," Coach Mary Beth Rader-Allegar said. "They have been coming through for us and dominated the novice category."

Junior figures by co-captain Heather Kincaid placed second, and Shelly Niggel fourth. Co-captain Paige Lehr took first place in the senior figures.

Kincaid was happy with her second-place finish in the junior figures, saying the first-place swimmer had the advantage of 10 years of experience. Kincaid has only been swimming competitively for four years.

"I was pleased with second," she said. "I hit all my figures."

The team also performed well in the routine division, with three firsts, a second and two thirds.

First place went to the seven-member A-team, Lehr for her solo and to Niggel, Kincaid and Schano for the trio.

The trio win was a surprise, Kincaid said, because it performed with different swimmers than normal. The swimmer who is normally the third part of the trio with Kincaid and Niggel is out with injuries.

"It's been incredible," Rader-Allegar said. "People are ready to peak and then get injuries. It has been a challenge."

Niggel and Kincaid also took second place in the duet, losing to Millersville's first duet team. Penn State and Millersville consistently traded first place victories for the duet.

The Kincaid-Niggel duet hopes to perfect its routine for the upcoming Regionals.

However, the duet of Tina Dietrich and Lynch placed third, beating Millersville's second duet.

"They had a great swim and a strong finish," Rader-Allegar said. "I'm very impressed -- they handled themselves well."

The B-team also placed third in the routine division.

The team's next competition is the Collegiate Regionals, held the second weekend in March.

In preparation for the Collegiate Regionals, a more competitive meet, the team is adding difficulty and length to its routines and figures.

Strategy becomes important at this point in the season, Rader-Allegar said. The team is continually adding and changing as its swimmers become stronger, she said. After evaluation of other opponents, the team selects routines and figures which will prove most competitive, she said.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how the other teams do," Niggel said.