This is it: the moment the Penn State men's swimming and diving team has been working for all year.

The men are at Indiana University to compete at the Big Ten Championships starting at noon today and concluding on Sunday. The competition will be as fierce as ever, but the Nittany Lions have been working too hard to let this opportunity slip away.

Of the nine teams in attendance, six are nationally ranked. Top teams include No. 7 Michigan and last year's winner, Minnesota, at No. 9. At No. 24, Penn State is looking to make a big statement.

"I think we would just like to put Penn State back on the map," sophomore Sean Biedermann said. "We kind of dropped off the map during the last couple of years, and I think we've just been rebuilding. This is our year to kind of come back on a national level and just start getting stronger as a team again."

After its eighth place finish at last year's championships, Penn State has been improving in several key areas. It has been pushing itself to the limit and has been one of the most consistent teams in recent memory.

"We don't have the most talent, we don't have the most depth, but I think we're better than what we were a year ago," Penn State swimming and diving coach Bill Dorenkott said. "I hope they are going to prove me right."

At the beginning of the season, Dorenkott and the team were excited to see how the large group of freshmen would adapt to collegiate swimming. Now that the biggest meet of the season is right in front of them, the Lions are happy to see the freshmen have definitely stepped up and proven they are valuable to this team.

Freshman Patrick Schirk has been one underclassman to step up big this season. Schirk enters the competition as a major contender in the 200-yard backstroke, where he is ranked No. 10 in the conference. Although this is their first championship, Dorenkott is confident Schirk and the rest of the freshmen will perform to the best of their abilities.

"I think it's a combination of nerves and excitement," Dorenkott said. "If we can channel that into something positive, I think they will be fine."

Along with Schirk, Biedermann is also ranked in the conference for the 400-yard individual medley at No. 9. There are also five different Penn State relay teams that are in the top 10. Relay victories this weekend will result in double points, which motivates the swimmers more.

Although the relays are important, Dorenkott wants to make sure his swimmers remain focused and determined throughout the entire meet.

"With a championship meet, you want to eliminate the highs and lows, and just have a strong, steady approach for six sessions," Dorenkott said. "That's how you win a championship or have successful championships. It's kind of like the prizefight. If you let your guard down, you're going to get knocked out. We want to be able to go the whole distance and be able to go out there and put up something to be proud of."

Getting knocked out is not an option for this year's team. Now is the time to shine, and prove that Penn State is back and stronger than ever. The underclassmen have proven that the future is promising, but this meet is for the seniors.

The four talented seniors have been able to keep this team motivated and as close as any other team from the recent past. Everyone wants to see them come away with performances that they can look back on and be pleased with it.

"I'd like to have a finals win at the Big Tens," senior Richard Kornacki said. "But I would rather see the team have a top five finish and just end my senior year on a good note."