LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University swim team is set to dive into the upcoming 2009-10 season.

LHU head coach Andy Waeger and his Lady Eagles hit the pool for the first time this weekend when they travel to Canton, Ohio for a quad-meet.

Canton will be special place the Lady Eagles this season as it marks the home of the 2009-10 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving National Championship, hosted by Lock Haven at the C.T. Branin Natatorium.

The Lady Eagles at a glance:

This year’s squad will be the largest for Waeger, who enters his fifth year at helm of The Haven program.

Waeger also called this team his most diverse in terms of specialties and feels that his squad certainly has the potential to score in all four strokes and the individual medley events at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship meet, a fete never accomplished at LHU.

The Haven also returns the four members of its school-record 800 Freestyle Relay team, which established a school-record time of 8:01.33 last season.

Terray leading the way:

Junior Amanda Terray (Coaldale, Pa./Panther Valley) will look to the lead the way for the Lady Eagles after she earned multiple All-American honors in each of her first two seasons of collegiate swimming.

Terray has also claimed back-to-back 200 backstroke titles at the conference championships. She’s the school record holder in both the 100 (57.09) and 200 (2:01.95) backstroke events.

Terry, who has also finished as runner-up in the 100 backstroke in each of the last PSAC Championship meets will also compete in the freestyle events.

In all, she’s a four-time All-American and along with school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke events, she owns the second fastest 50 freestyle time ever at LHU.

Terray is The Haven’s first-ever PSAC Champion, NCAA qualifier and All-American.

Waeger says Terray will look to make some adjustments this season and is poised for big things this year, as she looks to add to her already decorated list of accomplishments.

Breaking down the Lady Eagles:

Senior Becky Fountaine (Wantage, N.J./High Point)

Fountaine will swim the freestyle events and is a great leader according to Waeger, who calls Fountaine a strong team-leader is looking for her to cap off her career with some big performances this season.

Senior Amanda Palmer (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East)

Palmer will compete in the butterfly and IM events. She’s a returning PSAC qualifier and the school record holder in the 400 IM (4:43.99). Palmer also has the schools third fastest swims ever in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM. Waeger says Palmer is a team leader with a tremendous work ethic and looks for her to build on her breakout junior season.

Senior Shannon Wilbur (Altoona, Pa./Altoona)

Wilbur will swim the in the freestyle and backstroke events. Waeger calls her a tremendous contributor to the team, who is a spirited competitor.

Junior Ashley Gardner (Smyrna, Del./Dover)

Gardner, a technically sound swimmer will be competing in the backstroke and IM events.

Junior Brittany Williams (North East, Pa./North East)

Williams got conference championship experience a year ago while competing on The Haven’s relay teams. She will compete in the freestyle, breaststroke, and IM events. Waeger calls her a strong contributor to the team and a proven racer.

Sophomore Kasey Campbell (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy)

Campbell was PSAC qualifier last year as a rookie and holds the school record in the 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. She’s also recorded the third-fastest time in 500 free. Waeger says Campbell will focus on the freestyle after a fantastic freshman year, one he knows she can build off of.

Sophomore Samantha Durham (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville)

Durham was a PSAC qualifier as a freshman and will compete in the freestyle and butterfly events. She is a member of the school record 800 freestyle relay squad. Waeger says she’s a hard worker with the right attitude, which are two major keys that should lead her to more continued success this year.

Sophomore Nicole Faulstick (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area)

Faulstick will focus on the backstroke events and is one of the hardest workers on the team.

Sophomore Janel Kinard (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown)

Kinard is a returning PSAC relay qualifier and she will swim the butterfly, freestyle and IM events this season, while looking to qualify individually.

Sophomore Allison Schaefer (Allentown, N.J./Hamilton East)

Waeger is very excited to see Schaefer compete this year as she’ll focus on the freestyle and backstroke events.

Sophomore Rachel Vagnoni (Norristown, Pa./Norristown)

Vagnoni will compete in the breaststroke and freestyle. Waeger calls her extremely competitive and feels she has the potential for some big things this season.

Freshman Jenna Brooks (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore)

Brooks will swim the butterfly and freestyle and has a lot of potential, according to Waeger.

Freshman Aubrey DeLeo (South Amboy, N.J./South Amboy)

DeLeo adds depth in the freestyle and butterfly events.

Freshman Lisa Esachina (Blairsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic)

Esachina will swim the freestyle events after a year away from competitive swimming.

Freshman Brittany Maguire (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast)

Maguire adds depth in the freestyle and backstroke events.

Freshman Lucy Mills (Laurel, Md./Cedar Brook Academy)

Mills is a great technical swimmer who redshirted last season. She will compete in the butterfly, freestyle and IM events.

Freshman Shannon Milstead (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro)

Milstead will compete in the freestyle and buttefly events. Waeger says she is one the hardest working freshman he’s ever had and she’ll look to qualify for the conference championship this season.

Freshman Sarah Navarro (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley)

Navarro redshirted the season last year and is motivated to make her mark in the IM, breaststroke and freestyle events.

Freshman Brittany Rehrig (Wilmington, Del./Charter School of Wilmington)

Rehrig comes to LHU with some sensational accolades including a State Championships. Waeger feels she has a lot of potential in the breaststroke and freestyle events.

Waeger’s goals:

According to Waeger, the overall goal of the season is simple and this is for each individual to swim faster than she has ever done.

Waeger certainly feels that this goal is obtainable this year and is looking forward to see his athletes in action.

Always a goal for Lock Haven, the Lady Eagles will also look to be one of the top women’s only programs at the PSAC Championships.

Hosting NCAA’s:

Waeger, his Lady Eagles and the entire Lock Haven staff are excited about hosting the NCAA Championships in Canton, Ohio March 9-13.

“We are really looking forward to hosting this event and for the opportunity,” Waeger said. “We have an amazing support staff both at Lock Haven and in Canton that will help us make the meet a success.”

“We are really looking forward to this event and I am really excited for the opportunity,” Waeger said. “I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

“For our program to be associated with hosting the event is a pretty big step for us, as we are looking to move onward and upward in the swimming world.”

The C.T. Brannin Natatorium is top-level facility that has housed many notable past events.

Sam Seiple, C.T. Brannin Natatorium director is also looking forward to this opportunity of hosting another NCAA Championship event.

The “Canton-Seiple” and Lock Haven connection was formed, thanks in large part to LHU graduate assistant coach Katie Kuntz.

Kuntz, who’s in her second season as Lock Haven’s GA coach is a Clarion University graduate is a Canton native, who swam for Seiple.

Diving in:

Lock Haven kicks off the season this Saturday, October 24 in Canton, Ohio at the C.T. Branin Natatorium.

The Lady Eagles will compete in a quad-meet with the Findlay, Malone and Urbana at 1 p.m.