Six swimwomen head to NCAAs for variety of reasons

By LAWRENCE R.V. POTTER
Collegian Sports Writer

They will all swim in the same pool over the same three days, and they all will be wearing swimsuits bearing the letters "PSU." But the 1995 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, which begin today in Austin, Tx. and continue through Saturday, will mean something different to each member of the Lady Lion contigent.

For senior co-captain Deni Rudy, her fourth-straight trip to NCAAs will mark the end of her Penn State career. For freshmen like Carmen Kondra and Liz Rossi, the meet will be a great opportunity to put an exclamation point on strong first seasons as Lady Lions.

Sarah Duttera, a senior, will return to the NCAAs for the first time since her freshman year.

"It's a really good feeling," said Coach Bob Krimmel. "It's exciting to have the so-called 'new blood' and the older kids going together. You could say it is the end of one era and the beginning of another one."

The group of six Penn State swimmers is as diverse as it is talented. Rudy, who won the 100-yard freestyle event at the Big Ten Championships, and Duttera will be swimming in their last collegiate event. Junior Ashley Hyneman will be making her first trip to the championships. Sophomore Karen Van Tassel, Kondra and Rossi fill out the Lady Lion squad.

Rudy will swim in the 50, 100, and 200 free and the three relay teams (200, 400 and 800 free). Duttera will join Rudy on the 200 and 400 teams and swim in the 50 free. Kondra will race in the 50 and 100 free as well as the three relays. Rossi will also be on all of the relay teams and will compete in the 500 and 1,650 free.

Van Tassel will have a little more time to relax, competing in only the three relay events. Hyneman will be the team's alternate.

With three years' worth of NCAA championship experience to rely on, Rudy is quite an expert on the meet.

"I look at NCAAs as like a reward for me -- it is the Big Ten championships that I really focus on each season," the Newark, Del., native said. "I really don't get too nervous (about NCAAs) because in the past, the pressure hasn't been on me to get to the finals. But of course, I want to do well, and I will really push myself to do well."

Three years ago, Rudy was where Kondra and Rossi are now. But after swimming well during the regular season and the Big Ten championships, the freshmen are ready.

"I'm really excited to go to this meet," Rossi said. "It's a meet where you face the best college swimmers. It's good that we have the older swimmers for advice and leadership -- they can tell us exactly what to expect and that's a big help for us."