Prior to last Saturday's meet, the freshman class of the women's swimming and diving team was a huge question mark.

Now it is more of an exclamation point.

As Coach Bob Krimmel had hoped, the freshmen contributed greatly in their collegiate debuts, opening eyes while their own eyes were opened to a new level of swimming.

The youngsters overcame all the jitters and the uncertainty in an impressive fashion. Krimmel said the group performed well, but like any freshman class, it still has a lot to learn.

"They demonstrated they have the ability to compete at this level," Krimmel said. "If they keep their minds under control . . . and don't try to jump ahead, they'll be fine."

Victories from Julie Krail (100-yard breaststroke), Wendy Rowe (100 freestyle) and Tiffany Crandell (200 breast) and strong performances by the likes of Kim Kephart, Heather Whiting, Hannah Duttera and Kristi Swix, among others, helped the 16 newcomers make quite a first impression.

"The freshmen came through," tri-captain Deni Rudy said. "They had great races. It's a real positive step for us."

Rowe said she was "surprised but pleased" at her victory in the 100 free, but said the freestyle leg she swam in the 200 medley relay -- the first event of the meet -- was the scariest.

"The first one was probably the toughest -- to get that first college swim over with," she said.

Krail added that the key to getting through the first race was "to focus and concentrate on my race and nobody else's. It was very easy to be distracted, but I just tried to stay focused on my race and get through it as fast as I could."

And Krail showed the composure of a veteran in a close 100 breast race.

"I went into my last turn and we were head-to-head," she said. "I swam my race and I just went for it down the stretch. I couldn't have asked for anything more."

The elder swimmers have made it easier for the youngsters to fit in. The team is very close-knit and supportive, Rowe said. And the others agreed.

"There wasn't any pressure from other teammates -- there was only positive reinforcement," Krail said.