Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Championship Swim Season Ends With Team, National Honors
April 21, 2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Sophomore Alicia Aemisegger was named the 2008 Division I Women's Mid-Major Swimmer of the Year for the second straight time and led a cast of seven Tigers on the Mid-Major All-America Team, which is selected by CollegeSwimming.com. Aemisegger also earned The Jerry Horton Award for the Most Valuable Swimmer or Diver at the team's postseason banquet.
Aemisegger, the two-time Ivy League Championships Swimmer of the Meet, completed another record-breaking season for Princeton, which has won three straight Ivy League titles and eight of the last nine. Aemisegger reached the NCAA finals in the 500 free, 400 IM and 1650 free to earn first-team All-America honors in each, and she led the 800 free relay team to an honorable mention All-America honor at the NCAA Championships. CollegeSwimming.com also honored Aemisegger as a Mid-Major All-America in the 400 medley relay. Aemisegger has now set her sights on the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she hopes to make the national team in the 400 IM.
Justina DiFazio, a multiple-time Ivy champion throughout her career, was recognized for her performance in the 200 and 800 free relays, as well as the 100 free, while classmate Monika Friedman was honored in the 200 fly and 400 medley relay. Friedman swept the fly events at the 2008 Ivy League Championships and reached the NCAA Championships in the 200.
Sophomore Courtney Kilkuts, who broke Aemisegger's 200 IM record at the 2007 Big Al Open and reached the NCAAs in the same event, was honored in the 100 IM and 100 breast, while freshman Meredith Monroe was honored in the 100 and 200 back, as well as the 200 free relay, the 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay. It was Monroe's heroic finish at the NCAA Championships that helped the 800 free relay team of herself, Aemisegger, DiFazio and senior Brett Shiflett earn All-America honors.
Shilfett and classmate Lisa Hamming earned spots on the Mid-Major All-America team in their final seasons. Shiflett, the 100 and 200 free champion at the Ivy League Championships, was honored for the aforementioned events, as well as the 200 free relay, the 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay. Hamming, the 2007-08 co-captain, was honored in the 200 IM, the 400 IM and the 200 free relay. Hamming, a consistent point scorer throughout her career, thrilled the Tiger faithful at DeNunzio Pool with her captivating 400 IM victory at the 2008 Ivy League Championships.
The honors didn't end there for Hamming. At the Princeton women's swimming and diving postseason banquet, Hamming was presented both The Class of 1974 Women's Swimming & Diving Award and The Class of 2000 Susan S. Teeter Award. All five awards, along with explanation and 2008 recipient, can be found below. In her career, Hamming earned four different honors -- she earned the Women's Freshman Swimming & Diving Award in 2005 and The Jerry Horton Award for the Most Valuable Swimmer or Diver in 2006.
2008 Princeton Honors
The Jerry Horton Award for Women's Most Valuable Swimmer or Diver
Established by Jerry Horton '42, longtime friend of Princeton Swimming, and presented to the woman swimmer or diver whose consistently outstanding performance contributed most to the team's success.
The Women's Freshman Swimming & Diving Award
Presented for outstanding sportsmanship and performance by a freshman.
Meredith Monroe '11
The Class of 2000 Susan S. Teeter Award
Awarded annually to that senior class swimmer or diver who, during her four year career, has distinguished herself as both an outstanding student and a valuable member of the Women's Swimming and Diving Team.
Lisa Hamming '08
The Class of 1974 Women's Swimming & Diving Award
Originally presented by Cathy Corcione and CeCe Herron, members of the Class of 1974 - Awarded to that upperclass woman who has shown consistent dedication to the sport and who has done the most to inspire team unity and enthusiasm.
Lisa Hamming '08
Friends of Princeton Swimming & Diving Award for Women
Presented to a member of the women's swimming and diving team whose perseverance in practice and effort in competition have led to greatest improvement overall, during a single year or over a period of years.
Brittney Delgado '08