Dan Okoniewski

Event(s): 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays

Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.

Wave of interest: Began swimming because his older sister had scoliosis, so his parents signed up all five kids for swimming. He's the only Penn State senior attending the meet.

Quotable: "I just think this is a way to show ourselves on the national level. Everybody in the Big Ten already knows what we did, but we're underrated by other teams. I think this is an opportunity for us to step up and showcase our talent."

Holden Comeau

Event(s): 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays

Hometown: Carlisle

Wave of interest: Learned to swim in the now-famous Walden Pond.

Quotable: "The team is great, they're wonderful. That's why we do so well, because we're a team. Minnesota could have easily beaten us at Big Tens, but they weren't a team. Every race we kicked ass, and we couldn't rely on any one person."

Brian Hostetler

Event(s): 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays, 200- and 400-yard medley relays

Hometown: Chambersburg

Wave of interest: Has been swimming in McCoy Natatorium since the sixth grade; competed for YMCA and other U.S. Swimming meets.

Quotable: "I like everybody on the team, we all get along. We're like our own frat."

Bob Molettiere

Event(s): 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays

Hometown: Souderton

Wave of interest: Won the 100-yard freestyle event at Big Tens . . . as a freshman.

Quotable: "I really look up to (John) Retrum for transferring from a different school. He's taught the kids a lot and he's been to NCAAs, so he knows what's going on. I can always look to John for help."

Brian McKenna

Event(s): 200-yard medley relay

Hometown: Albany, N.Y.

Wave of interest: His high school relay team once won a race because the opposing team mistakenly thought to swim 100 yards instead of 50 yards.

Quotable: "I've heard other guys saying it, and now I'm saying it, but I don't think we could swim for anybody else. (Brown) relates so well to college swimmers."

Matt Teeter

Event(s): 200- and 400-yard medley relays

Hometown: Gettysburg

Wave of interest: A junior, this is his first trip to NCAAs.

Quotable: "I think NCAAs will be a lot like Big Tens. I'm pretty excited that there's a big group of guys going. It's nice knowing that there are 11 of us going."

Josh Weaver

Event(s): 400-yard medley relay

Hometown: York

Wave of interest: One of only two freshmen going to NCAAs.

Quotable: On coming to Penn State -- "It was an up-and-coming team, which is what I wanted. I didn't want a team that wasn't good, I also didn't want a team that I'd get lost in."

Martin Schierhorn

Event(s): 800-yard freestyle relay

Hometown: Zapperdorf, Germany

Wave of interest: An exchange student, he once swam against and defeated Comeau in Pennsylvania State High School Championships.

Quotable: "We're a group, and being a group is what made us win Big Tens."

Kevin Smith

Event(s): 800-yard freestyle relay

Hometown: Havertown

Wave of interest: Came to Penn State for its engineering program, the decision to swim came second.

Quotable: "I hope we just keep going in the direction we do. Things are looking pretty good. You can't really stop and say, 'Good job. We won and now it's all over.' You've got to keep going."

John Retrum

Event(s): 800-yard freestyle relay

Hometown: Columbus, Ind.

Wave of interest: Came to Penn State as a transfer from Florida State upon the recommendation of swim captain Steve Medei's twin brother, a Seminoles swimmer.

Quotable: "By the time I came here I really knew what a team was, and a good coach, what their qualities were. I knew what I wanted in a team."

• Swimmen riding high into nationals