While sitting on the bleachers donning swim caps and holding goggles, the men's and women's swim team listened as coach John Hargis addressed his them.

Both teams sat shoulder to shoulder as Hargis went over the final itinerary for this weekend's trip to Columbus. After reporting times were confirmed and instructions given, the swimmers hurried over to their respective pools.

A sense of excitement was in the air as some swimmers plunged into the water splashing around, while other's stood by the water and talked about the importance of this weekend.

When the Nittany Lions men's and women's swim teams hit the pool for this weekend's competition, they do so against a familiar face.

Former head coach Bill Dorenkott, who spent 13 years with the Lions, is now leading the Buckeyes, who are just one of many Big Ten teams competing at the Ohio State Invitational.

"We are absolutely so excited to get up to Columbus and start racing," senior Kaitlin O'Brien said. "It was kind of in the back of our mind when we went home for Thanksgiving, but then as soon as we came back on Sunday we were all saying 'We can't wait for Ohio State, we can't wait for Ohio State.' "

With many veterans on both the men's and women's rosters, they have their sights set on performing well and feel they have something to prove.

"I guess there is a little incentive to want to do better at this meet," O'Brien said. "I think we all just kind of want to show Bill that we were able to carry on with our new coaches; and even though he left us, we're still the same Penn State team."

Hargis said he understands the athletes' desire to race well in front of their former coach, but is more concerned with how both teams handle the competition. With today marking their first three-day competition of the season, Hargis wants the focus to be on what's happening in the pool and not outside.

"I want to see fast swimming this weekend and see if our detail work is a little bit cleaned up," Hargis said. "It provides the opportunity to swim the events twice by having the prelims and finals format. I think it's gonna be a good gauge of where we are this time of the year."

The entire program insists its focused on the task at hand and expects the weekend to be a chance to prove itself to its former coach, and also the rest of the Big Ten.

"In Bill's defense, there's never an easy way to leave. He put 13 years of his heart and soul into this program," Hargis said. "Now, some may tell you it could have been handled differently, but for both sides it's not an easy thing. I think the kids want to swim well in front of him, but I think it goes beyond that."

Many of the swimmers are grateful for the insight Dorenkott passed along to them during their careers at Penn State. Junior Basil Kaaki is just one of the veteran swimmers who spoke highly of his former coach.

"He was a great coach," Kaaki said. "He definitely improved my swimming and my character and was a great influence. Ohio is lucky to have him, but we have a great, top-notch coach as well, so it will be an interesting meet."