Rounding the corner to the apartment, seven bicycles greet visitors as they head toward the front door. Inside, they find banners of biking companies alongside framed pictures of bicyclists and three more bikes placed sporadically through the home, one even placed atop of a dresser.

It is easily determined this is the home of an avid biker, but it is not as obvious it is the home of Penn State swimmer, Vincent Reydams.

Reydams, a junior on the men's swimming and diving team, is often found riding his bike when he is out of the pool. He tries to go out riding on the weekends and frequently in the summer. He even competes in triathlons, which combines swimming and biking along with running.

Majoring in mechanical engineering, Reydams enjoys building and fixing both bicycles and cars in his free time. He loves to work with his hands and hopes to get a job in design.

"I am really big into cycling," Reydams said. "I love everything from mountain biking to just riding through campus. Once I graduate, I'd like to focus more on triathlons so I can incorporate both cycling and swimming."

Reydams would love to spend more time biking, but he has other obligations to the swim team, leaving him with little time to focus on his other interests.

However, those obligations are beginning to pay off as Reydams has been having a breakthrough season in the pool, starting off stronger than he ever has before. Last year, he recorded his fastest time of 20.4 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle near the end of the season. This year, he is close to his fastest time again, recording a time of 20.68 seconds in the team's first meet of the season.

He put up respectable times at the NCAA championships last year, several of his teammates said, but he worked hard throughout the summer and the offseason to improve his times. Reydams is expected to put up some fast times by the end of the season.

"This has been a year where I have really excelled early on in the year," Reydams said. "I've gone my fastest in-season times early on, and that has been pretty exciting. It's really good to be getting that close to best times. Hopefully, I will continue to go from there."

Reydams can attribute some of his success in the pool to his passion for bicycling. Although he does not have a lot of opportunities to ride during the season, he makes up for lost time in the summer. During the offseason, bicycling keeps him in shape, which prepares him for his upcoming season in swimming.

"When given the chance," Reydams said, "biking gives me a mental break. It is a chance for me to get away and just relax."

Reydams may seem like a superb athlete now, but he was not always that way. In fact, he is lucky to even be a swimmer at the collegiate level.

When Reydams was coming out of high school, he was not a sought-after recruit.

He was not the best athlete available, and he was not being seriously looked at by many schools. However, the Penn State coaches saw something in Reydams, and they brought him to State College.

"When Vince came out of high school, he wasn't the best athlete," Penn State coach Bill Dorenkott said, "but we knew that he would bring a certain element to our team -- a lightness and energy that was needed here."

Now, several of his teammates agree Reydams brings a little bit of everything to the team.

He is constantly working hard whether he is in the weight room, the pool or dry-circuit training. He has a great attitude toward the team and he is always willing to learn new things.

The coaches have noticed this as well, saying he brings out the best in others.

Reydams is a thoughtful person who has a big grin on his face at all times. Dorenkott said he is well liked among the team.

"He's a really laid back guy who knows how to have fun and work hard at the same time," Penn State captain Dito Calderon said. "His personality radiates at practice and at the meets. He has a great work ethic both in the pool and the classroom. Vince is a good leader on this team who leads by example."

With the first half of the season behind the Lions, the team has many expectations for Reydams. They believe he will be a big factor at the NCAA championships in March, especially on the relay teams.

Reydams also has expectations for himself.

He hopes to prove himself as a leader on the team not just as a standout swimmer, but as a mentor, too.

Reydams hopes to become someone people can look up to, talk to and rely on for help.

Reydamns' coach agrees that the swimmer has the potential to excel.

"I definitely have high expectations for Vince," Dorenkott said. "He is a very consistent swimmer and he is proving himself this year more than ever. You can expect a lot from him in the future."