They are champions.

In four days of competition at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center of Indiana University, the No. 14 Penn State women's swimming team scored 693 points -- a school record -- to win the Big Ten Championships with nearly 200 points more than second-place Indiana (497).

"We dominated from the beginning," senior Sara Shepherd said.

After setting a Big Ten record in the 200-yard medley relay in Wednesday's opening session, the Nittany Lions came back to take the lead by a 238-199 margin after Thursday's session. The gap between Penn State and the carousel of teams below would continue to grow, as the Lions led Indiana by 145 points after Friday's events.

"People swam unbelievably this weekend. If people didn't swim their best, they wouldn't have scored," senior Dee Dlugonski said. "People that maybe weren't expected to."

Penn State junior Amberle Biedermann won the 100 butterfly in 54.10 seconds, and senior Kristen Woodring found success in the 100 breaststroke, winning in a time of 1:01.90. In addition to winning both the 200 and 400 medley relay events, the team captured four second-place and five third-place finishes.

"No one had any clue what kind of a team this was," Woodring said.

Six Lions were named first-team All-Big Ten (Woodring, Biedermann, Dlugonski, junior Sarah Haupt, sophomore Erin Morris and freshman Lauren Preyss). Senior Courtney Stanchock and sophomore Claire Hawley were named to the second team.

At least one Lions swimmer was in the top eight of all 13 individual events, and no less than two were in the top 16. The Lions, on average, had more than three swimmers in the top 16 of each event, whereas Indiana had just 1.5 and Wisconsin averaged two.

In terms of scoring, total number of swimmers in the top 16 is important as points are awarded in decreasing amounts for each of those spots. Winning an event, which is worth 20 points, isn't as rewarding as the team that has fourth-, seventh- and eighth-place finishers (38 points).

Perhaps the biggest key to the Lions' success was bringing a bus-full of swimmers primed for competition. The sport is not devoid of stars, as shown by performances like Woodring's, and Carly Piper's win in the 1,650 free. But, as many are quick to point out, it is special in addition to being successful.

"We're on the same page as a team," said Penn State head coach Bill Dorenkott, who was named Big Ten Women's Coach of the Year. "When you talk about great teams, you have to have both [depth and talent]."

In meeting the primary goal of its season, the team will continue its journey at the NCAA Championships, hosted by Purdue University, from March 17 to 19. Dorenkott said that Penn State would send to the meet what is likely the largest Penn State squad ever.

From Thursday night to the end of the meet on Saturday, the stopwatch saw the Lions guarantee themselves a spot by at the national championship meet in eight different events by swimming an NCAA "A" cut time.