Princeton University Athletics
Women's Swimming Set to Begin Season against BC, Northeastern, Binghamton
November 14, 2003 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 14, 2003
Princeton, N.J. - When the Princeton women's swimming and diving team takes to the pool at Boston College's Flynn Recreation Complex this weekend, the Tigers will begin their quest for a fifth-straight Ivy League title and a sixth-straight undefeated season.
In fact, wins over BC, Northeastern and Binghamton this weekend will mean that Princeton is 44-0 dating back to the 1997-98 season. That streak of 44 consecutive wins would be one better than the previous Princeton mark which was set by the men's tennis team in the late 70's.
The 2003-04 season should be another banner year for the Tigers and here's a look at the season outlook.
What did Princeton do in 2002-2003?
The Tigers won their fourth consecutive Ivy League Championship and secured their fifth straight season without a dual meet loss. The majority of the team achieved personal best performances, setting several school and league records along the way. In addition, the Tigers continued to build national recognition by sending two swimmers - senior Sarah Fraumann and junior Stephanie Hsaio - to the NCAA Championships in Auburn, Ala. Fraumann competed in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles and Hsiao swam the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley. Fraumann's time of 16:25.04 in the 1,650 at the Ivy League Championships was not only a school record, but it was also faster than the automatic qualifying standard, which only a handful of the nation's top collegiate swimmers attain. What's different in 2003-2004?
Princeton lost a talented and spirited class to graduation, including school record holders Chrissy Holland, Michelle Nielson, and Molly Seto; the Class of 2003 graduated having never lost a single meet during in its collegiate career. This season, the Tigers will focus on extending that unbeaten streak - both in dual meets and at the Ivy League Championships - and will look to send more swimmers and divers to the NCAA Championships.
How will the team improve upon its successes? "The emphasis that we place on distance training - and the work ethic that is exhibited across the board - is an excellent base to build on for the future," says head coach Susan Teeter. "The team is committed to realizing the depth of its talent through hard work and teamwork." A grueling training regimen, combined with this desire to leap onto the national collegiate scene, will energize the team during the competitive season that begins in October and ends in February.
Who stands in the way of another perfect season? Harvard and Brown both have strong rosters and will be formidable opponents in 2003-2004. "Both schools had excellent recruiting years on top of returning some superstars," says Teeter. "They are both forces to be reckoned with." The annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet - a two-day, pressure-packed event that often decides who will emerge as the Ivy League dual meet champion - is at Princeton this year. The Ivy League Championships are held at Harvard, and the Tigers recognize the significant home pool advantage that the Crimson will have. Princeton's own roster, which is deep in talent, from the sprints to the longer events, will have to rely on strong contributions from all of the classes.
Who is returning?
To preserve the Tigers' unbeaten streak against strong opponents like Brown and Harvard, key contributions will have to come from the experienced veteran classes. The talent is spread not only across the classes, but also across events. Look for strong performances from senior Lauren Rossi in the breaststroke events; senior Lisa Battaglia and sophomore Sarah Schaffer in backstroke; junior Maggie Littlefield in diving; sophomore Libby Engelmeier in distance freestyle and backstroke; sophomore Eileen Altenburger in butterfly and distance freestyle; sophomore Kitsie Kerner backstroke and butterfly; and junior Amy Jones in freestyle. Who are the newcomers?
As always, Princeton has a strong incoming class of swimmers ready to step right into the mix and contribute. "It will be as critical as ever for the upperclass athletes to be mentors for the newcomers as they gain big-meet experience and start making important contributions of their own," says Teeter. Freshmen Kelly Hannigan will compete in individual medley and breaststroke, Lisa Vollmond-Carstens in distance freestyle, Nikki Laffel in sprint freestyle, Kristen Arey in backstroke and Michelle Demond in diving.
What are the team's strengths?
The coaching staff is quick to point out the versatility of the athletes and their ability to train for and compete in a variety of events and disciplines. Stephanie Hsiao, for example, was recruited as an individual medley and sprint freestyle specialist; during 2002-2003, she broke a 10-year old meet record in the 100 breaststroke at the Ivy League Championships with a 1:02.43, which qualified her for her first NCAA Championship.
Teeter has constructed a program that infuses various methods of building endurance and strength, all of which supplement the team's intense swimming workouts. Included in these methods are running, weight training, pilates, circuit training, and plyometrics. "The key motivation for incorporating all of this cross training in our workout sessions is so that the team can find new ways to improve in the water," says Teeter. "We put in a lot of yardage at the pool, but we also believe that cross training is a great way to gain an edge on the competition."
The Tigers also rely on the cohesive nature of the team. Often referring to themselves as a 'large family,' the team's unity is a product of its success and the positive momentum of the program. Although Princeton's roster is larger than that of most of its competitors, Teeter says that "the atmosphere feels like a close-knit family; we all know each other very well and can recognize and adapt to individual strengths and weaknesses just like a family does." She continues, "We also share common goals and aspirations for the team, which makes for a very electric environment."
What will be the prevailing theme this season?
"One of my favorite memories from the 2002-2003 season was the 100-yard butterfly at the Ivy League Championships. Molly Seto '03 and Kitsie Kerner '06 were battling for first place 0:55.24 to 0:55.59," recalls Teeter. "That was an important moment: it seemed as though the team's past, present, and future were all coming together. We have lofty goals for the future of this team - like sending a large group of swimmers and divers to NCAA's - and building on the rich tradition of Princeton swimming will help us take this huge step forward."