Though cats don’t normally jive with water, the Nittany Lion defied all odds over the weekend by diving full tilt into the pool with Penn State Swimming & Diving at the team’s first home meet of the season.

“Over the summer I filmed a commercial alongside several other mascots and the Duck from Oregon began to make fun of me because I am a cat and can’t swim,” the Nittany Lion said. “It was then that I knew that I must not only prove that I can swim, but I must show what a strong powerful Lion I am by asserting my dominance as the King of Belly Flops.”

The team posted this story on its Instagram page:

Despite the feline stereotypes, the Lion said he wasn’t nervous about the stunt.

“I haven’t been swimming in a while but it felt like the right time to get back out there in the water,” he said. “I’ve been the King of Belly Flops ever since I was a cub.”

Needless to say, the Nittany Lion was soaking wet by the time he climbed out of the pool.

“It took countless towels and hours with a hair dryer to dry myself off completely,” he said, impressed by the benefits of conditioner to get make his fur soft and shiny. “I’ve learned that swimming is definitely something that is better done in the summer when I can just lay out and catch that nice gold fur fine while drying off.”