Princeton University Athletics
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No. 24 Women's Swimming/Diving Gets Record Performance From Highly Touted Rookie
October 24, 2006 | Women's Swimming and Diving
The 2005-06 Princeton women's swimming and diving season ended with one of the most dramatic league titles in the program's impressive history. Several strong performances from returning Tigers helped key Princeton's upset of Harvard, and Susan Teeter expects even more from those student-athletes this year. Of course, she has some high hopes for a few other members of the roster, even if they were more concerned with the prom than the Ivy League title last winter.
Princeton will open the season ranked 24th nationally, which is a credit to both the strong set of swimmers and divers returning to Denunzio Pool, as well as a very impressive freshman class. That class is led by Alicia Aemisegger, who debuted at last weekend's Orange and Black meet by breaking the program 400 IM record by nearly four seconds. Aemisegger, one of 19 members of the first 2007 World University Game U.S. roster, broke the record with an NCAA 'A' qualifying time of 4:15.45. Aemisegger is one of several talented members of the Class of 2010 which, Teeter hopes, will help bolster Princeton's chances at another strong season.
"It's an honor that so many people around the country respect our program and have ranked us in the Top 25 so early in the year," the veteran and highly successful head coach said. "We look forward to great meets this year with Michigan and, as always, Harvard."
Princeton also got strong swims from Ellen Gray's 100 free (10:11), as well as from Nikki Laffel and Brett Shiflett. Freshman Courtney Kilkuts also looks primed for a strong rookie season and could be a terrific teammate with Aemisegger for a long time.
2006-07 Preview
If you want the ideal way to springboard into the next season with positive momentum, you might want to study the one the Princeton women's swimming and diving team will be using for the 2006-07 schedule.
First of all, end your previous season, one that had its fair share of ups and downs, with an unexpected Ivy League championship. Even better, claim that title at the home pool of your top rival, and do it when that rival was the clear favorite.
Next, make sure you return a number of critical swimmers from that championship meet. For instance, bringing back five of the top nine scorers from the 2006 Ivy League championship meet is a good way to go. The return of Ellen Gray (second), Kelly Hannigan (fourth), Brett Shiflett (sixth), Justina DiFazio (seventh) and Lisa Hamming (ninth) gives Prince-ton an ideal foundation for the coming season.
You might also want to introduce the league to a strong freshman class. While you never know just how many swimmers will make early impacts, Teeter feels quite confident that two of them, Aemisegger and Kilkuts, will be heard from early and often.
And finish it off with a sprinkling of motivation. The league championships are coming to your house this season, and your rival, Harvard, will be loaded once again.
Yes, this team will be ready to go for the 2006-07 season.
Freestyle
A heroic performance by Gray in the Ivy League championships cemented the victory for Princeton in 2006. She won the 1,000 on Friday and then claimed the 1,650 on Saturday by 17 seconds. The junior also went to the NCAA championships for the first time and will be able to draw on that experience to build on this season. Teeter will be looking to replace some of her depth in the distance events, since two members of the Class of 2006 also finished in the Top 10 in both events. Tigers to watch are juniors Mary Cheffers and Catherine Wolpe, sophomore Monika Friedman and freshman Aurora Lee.
Two of the premier middle distance swimmers will sport the Orange and Black this year (and next year too, considering neither are seniors). DiFazio, a sophomore, and Shiflett, a junior, finished 1-2 in the Ivy League 200 final, and they finished 2-3 in the 100 final. Both also joined forces to lead Princeton to a win in the 800 free relay. Shiflett added an impressive win in the 500, while Gray finished third in the event. Two other swimmers to watch in the middle distance events are seniors Kristen Arey and Nikki Laffel.
The departure of Chrissy Macaulay leaves an opening for Princeton's top sprinter. Senior Sobenna George reached the 50 free final at the Ivy championships and will be one of the favorites this year, although juniors Katie Miller and Suzanne Rossi can't be overlooked either.
Backstroke
Hannigan, a senior, finished second in the 100 back last year during the same session as the 400 IM, where she also finished second. She should be a force in the 100 and 200 back this year. Hamming, a junior, finished third in the 200 back last year and will be another force in the race, as will sophomore Meghan Capparell, who finished sixth in the 200 last year.
Breaststroke
Both highly-touted freshmen excel in this event. Aemiseggar brings the fastest 100 time into the league this year, but she might end up swimming different events by championship weekend. Kilkuts could also end up challenging for the Ivy title in this event, although she too is strongest in another event. Both freshmen had Top-15 times in the 200 at their age level last year. They could both be needed to score in this event, though, because of the loss of the graduated Sarah Schaffer. Teeter will also look to senior Erica Pang and freshmen Karina Silvester and Lisa Donnelly to be contributors in this event.
Butterfly
Friedman and DiFazio bring the best results into the season, as both finished in the top five in the 200 last season. Friedman's third-place finish was Princeton's best in this stroke last year. They will likely be among the event leaders for the Tigers, as will Capparell, who returns with the best finish in the 100 fly from last season. Junior Brittany Delgado will also be in the mix at this stroke.
Individual Medley
If teams don't beat Princeton in other spots, they're in real trouble. Teeter could put together the best set of IM competitors in program history this year.
Start with the duo of Hannigan and Hamming, who finished 1-2 in the 200 IM and 2-3 in the 400 IM last year. The return of those two alone would make this a strong event for the Tigers. But remember those two freshmen, Aemisegger and Kilkuts? Well, the IM is where they shine. And they shine brightly.
Aemisegger's best time in the 200 IM last year, 1:58.55, would have won the 2006 Ivy title by more than four seconds. Her best time in the 400 IM, 4:07.85, would have won by nearly 12 seconds, and it would have come against the Swimmer of the Meet, Harvard's Noelle Bassi. It would have been two seconds off the Ivy record, held by Cristina Teuscher. By the way, Teuscher went on to win an Olympic bronze medal.
Kilkuts was a junior national champion in the 200 IM and a six-time All-America. Her time places her sixth in the nation at her age group (Aemisegger ranked second), and she went undefeated in high school at any stroke and any distance.
Yes, Princeton looks strong in the IM this year. And for years to come.
Diving
The Tiger divers played a critical role in the surprising championship weekend last year, and with many returning, this should also be a strong part of the 2006 team.
Senior Michelle DeMond will lead the group this year and is especially strong off the platform and three-meter board, where she placed third in the 2006 Ivy League championships. Sophomore Katie Giarra was Princeton's top scorer on the 1-meter board last season, placing third in her first year of the Ivy meet, and she placed fifth on the 3-meter board. Classmate Peggy Kearns gained experience from the NCAA championships, where she peaked with a 20th-place finish off the platform. Junior Charlotte Jones and freshmen Michelle Morikawa and Maria Phillip are other divers to watch from this deep and talented group.