Princeton University Athletics
Women's Outlook
December 05, 2000 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Say goodbye.
And keep saying it...13 times to be exact.
The biggest graduating class in the history of Princeton women's swimming bid farewell to the program last year, but not before leaving an Ivy League championship to defend. The lucky 13 graduates also left a leadership void, but fortunately for the Tigers, they did not take all the talent with them.
"We graduated an extremely talented class, but 75 percent of our points were scored by our freshmen and sophomores," coach Susan Teeter said. "We're still a young team and that's very helpful. We'll be looking to those same classes to come through again, and hopefully get some real good sparks from the incoming freshman class.
"Because of what we've been able to build over the years, and with the class of 2000 helping us jump over the edge and really win, its given the younger classes the belief system we can win. It's up to the returning three classes telling the incoming freshmen, `Hey you guys, we can do this again, and it was fun the first time we did it.'" Diving will be a strong point, as senior Erin Lutz and juniors Katherine Mattison and Danielle Stramandi all return. Mattison was Diver of the Meet and won the one-meter at the Ivy championship, while Lutz won the three-meter. Stramandi, a tower diver, took 13th in platform to earn All-America status at the NCAAs. Senior Tara Rastelli is another diver expected to score points.
Junior Jenny Macaulay, the team's MVP, returns after winning the 200 breast at the Ivy meet, while taking second in the 400 IM and competing on the first-place 400-medley relay team. Macaulay was an NCAA qualifier in the 200 breaststroke and 400 IM last year and took a Top-8 finish at the Canadian Olympic 200 IM trials last May.
Butterflyer Schuyler Holmes, backstroker Sangeeta Puri and breast-stroker Kristen Szumera are other key seniors returning.
Junior freestyler Valeria Kukla is termed by Teeter as "one of our real go-to swimmers." Kukla, who has been instrumental in recruiting swimmers from her Eastern Pennsylvania home turf, is the school record holder in the 500 free and took second in the 200 free at the Ivy meet. Kate Conroy is also part of a strong junior class. Conroy was on the Ivy champion 400- and 200-medley relay teams and won the 100 backstroke. Other juniors who should help include freestyler Ann-Marie Casperite and backstroker Jocelyn Petrella.
Chrissy Holland highlights the sophomore class after winning the 100 breast at the Ivy meet and swimming on the 200-medley relay team that set a meet, pool and University record time of 1:44.42. Sophomore Molly Seto was also on the 200-medley team and will be looked upon in the freestyle and butterfly. Mo Bolger will help in the distance freestyle events.
Freshmen Lisa Battaglia, Claire Pearson and Cara Goeller will be counted on to strengthen the distance backstroke events. Alix Eastman should bolster the distance events, and Lauren Rossi will help in the breaststroke. They lead an incoming class that includes Sarah Fraumann, Katie Kopil, Katie Kuga, Melissa Ginsberg, Stef Lawlor, Stephanie Wright and Meredith Saylor.
"The beauty of being a freshman is not having anything to live up to," Teeter said. "We're just hoping they can come in and sort of light the fire and help fill the shoes of the leadership we graduated."
On paper, the Ivy championship shapes up as a three-way battle between Princeton, Brown and Harvard.
"I'm optimistic, but cautious because I think it's going to be a drastic change," Teeter said. "We have to hope our skills will outdo the other teams. One of our other goals is to try and get more people qualified for NCAAs." Striving for that gives us the tools to win the championship because it has our people swimming much faster at a higher level."
And there should be enough people left to keep Princeton at a level high enough for another Ivy title.