JACKSON TWP — Penn State University women's swimming coach Bill Dorenkott has long coveted a Seneca Valley swimmer.

He just landed two of them.

SV seniors Rose Snyder and Emily Wolfarth recently signed letters of intent to swim and continue their education in Happy Valley.

Both will be on scholarship.

"Penn State had everything I want in a school," said Wolfarth.

"I've known (SV coach) Tom Donati for 17 years and I've got a tremendous amount of respect for him," said Dorenkott. "I've been the coach here at Penn State for 10 years and have wanted to get his swimmers up here for a while."

Snyder visited the campus in early November while Wolfarth took her trip in September.

"I think it was good that they visited at different times," said Dorenkott. "They got a chance to evaluate the university and the program independent of each other."

"It could make it easier for us to know that there will be someone we both know going through the same transition," said Snyder, who plans to major in elementary education. "But at the same time, we have to branch out, maybe join different activities on campus."

Wolfarth (distance freestyle) and Snyder (sprint freestyle), both veterans of the WPIAL and PIAA championship meets, have picked a quality program.

Since Dorenkott took over the team prior to the 1998-99 season, the Nittany Lions have produced one Olympic qualifier, one national champion, have won three Big 10 titles and are consistently ranked in the Top 20.

Penn State is currently ranked 11th in the country.

"The biggest reason why I chose Penn State is that the women on the swim team there respect their coach, above and beyond everything else," said Snyder.

Snyder has evolved from an unknown her freshman year to one of the best sprint freestylists the WPIAL has to offer.

"When she was a freshman, I'm not sure she wanted to be here," said Donati. "I think she just joined the team because her brother (Drew) was swimming here at the time.

"But she's made great strides and has matured a lot over the last few years."

As for Wolfarth, who will major in kinesiology, she has blended natural ability with a strong work ethic.

"It would be hard for you to find a better athlete at Seneca Valley than Emily, not just on the swim team, but in all the sports," Donati said.

While Snyder and Wolfarth are currently focused on high school swimming, a big transition awaits them.

"The intensity of our program will be the biggest difference for them," Dorenkott said. "When you get to a college program, most of the kids are elite swimmers. There's a great intensity in the weight room and in practice."

"My goal is to drop all of my times a lot," Wolfarth said. "I don't know if that will happen next year or down the road."

"I want to go to a program where I can get better," said Snyder. "I believe I can do that at Penn State. I want to be a leader on the team."