The Penn State rowers are preparing for their final week of training to get ready for the biggest regatta in the United States, just one week after the end of the academic calendar.

Each year, Penn State crew competes in Philadelphia's Dad Vail Regatta, which plays host to some of the world's finest rowing talent.

"It's going to be very exciting to see how we do at Vails this year," coach Susan Saint Sing said. "Especially since two of our crews remain undefeated."

Last year, Penn State missed the finals by only a few tenths of a second in both men's and women's varsity lighweight fours.

The Penn State coaches expect to get further in the medals chase this time around, considering the seven gold medals the team has already accumulated this season.

"Our competition is beginning to realize that Penn State is a team they need to be worried about," club president Emily Burns said.

Since a silver medal in the women's pair event in 2000 was Penn State's only Dad Vail medal, the team is putting a lot of its hope on the men's heavyweight and lightweight fours and the women's pair.