By: Dana Relation
Sports Information Assistant
relatdm10@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata women's swimming team is hosting Penn State Altoona on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. in a nonconference meet. Juniata will ride a tri-match sweep into the competition and is looking for continued success against the Lady Lions in their final regular season meet of the year.
This weekend will be the first meeting between the Eagles and the Lady Lions under the direction of head coach Nathan Smith. Juniata holds the recent advantage in the rivalry, winning three of the last four encounters. In their latest meeting two seasons ago, Juniata captured the 79-14 victory.
The young Eagles team will look to lone senior Hillary Palmer (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County) as a source of leadership and energy in the final home meet of her career. Palmer has captured wins in nine individual events on the season and has greatly contributed to the Eagle's relays. She currently holds top ten Landmark Conference times in four events this season.
Juniata also has enjoyed standout performances from many underclassmen. Freshman Erika Fimple (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) will look to continue her breakout season. She recently broke school records in the 100 and 200 fly and has placed herself in the top five of the Landmark Conference in five different events on the year. Sophomore Emily Nye (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) came up big in Juniata's most recent meet, picking up wins individual wins in the 100 breaststroke and 50 free.
"Erika just keeps looking better and better," stated Smith. "She's swimming the 100 fly and 100 breaststroke. Emily is also swimming the breaststroke. We don't really know who's going to win there. Penn State Altoona has a pretty good breaststroker, too. The 100 breaststroke will be a good race tomorrow."
Penn State Altoona has dropped its last six meets and is looking to regain momentum heading into the homestretch of the season. The Lady Lions biggest threat in the pool is Ashley Nero, who picked up wins in the 100 breaststroke and 50 free in Penn State Atoona's last meet.
"We're just excited to have a home meet again," said Smith, "and to have one last tune-up before the conference championships."
Live stats will be available using Meet Mobile, which can be downloaded to mobile devices from the Google Play Store or App Store.
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