Erika Georgs was a hyperactive 3 year old. Her parents, to avoid having her wear them out -- and possibly redecorate their home by jumping and running through it -- enrolled her in a children's gymnastics program at the local YMCA.

Nearly two decades later, Georgs is at a Division I university diving for Penn State's nationally ranked swimming and diving team.

Georgs has been diving quite well lately, taking first place in both the 1- and 3-meter diving events against Northwestern and second place in both events against Indiana ten days ago. She also won the 1-meter at Virginia on Jan. 14.

"I've just been able to pull it together," Georgs said. "I just have been able to keep my dives pretty consistent. They're good meets, they haven't been outstanding, but I've been able to stay consistent, and I think that's what's been getting me the totals."

But back in 1978, she was a small, energetic toddler.

"I started tumble-tots when I was like three," the Skillman, N.J., native said of the gymnastics program for children. "My mom put me in tumble-tots because I would just run around the house, and I was so hyperactive that she needed to get me into something."

What started out as a positive way for Georgs to focus her energy eventually became a serious endeavor.

Georgs participated on a private gymnastics team and competed for her junior high school. But Georgs transferred to Princeton High School, where there was no gymanstics team.

So, without any experience, Georgs took up diving.

"I'd mess around in the pool and do back handsprings off the diving board," she said, "but nothing like real diving."

Georgs succeeded in her new sport. The tireless athlete also played junior varsity tennis and was a cheerleader her senior year.

Then the time came to decide on a college.

Although she was only minutes away from Princeton, Georgs decided that since eight of her friends were already accepted there, she would seek out her own path. Her recruiting visit to Penn State helped her make the decision.

"I wanted to go to a big university -- Penn State just really appealed to me," the sophomore said. "When I came here, it was freezing cold. I didn't like that too much, but it wasn't that bad.

"I saw a practice with Craig Brown and thought he was just the greatest coach. As soon as I saw him coaching and the divers genuinely having a good time, it just sold me."

After adjusting to the academic and athletic differences between high school and college, Georgs went to an aquatic center in California last summer. The center trains college swimmers and divers from schools across the United States. Georgs believes the training helped her diving. Her teammates agree.

"She's working really hard this year," junior diver Melissa Breen said. "She's practicing harder and diving a lot better. She has grown up this year. She has a totally different attitude. At practice, she'll tell me when I've done something well, and I do the same thing for her."

Away from the pool, Georgs recently entered the Smeal College of Business Administration after spending the past three semesters in the Division of Undergraudate Studies. She said she tries to divide her time between diving and schoolwork.

But climbing the corporate ladder, and not the diving board ladder, may in her future.

Right now, Georgs enjoys traveling with the Lady Lions. Although she would rather visit places like Boston and New York, seeing universities in other cities will do.

Actually, anything that keeps her busy will do.