Princeton University Athletics
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Nationally Ranked Swim/Dive Teams Honor Seniors Sunday Against Dartmouth
January 21, 2009 | Women's Swimming and Diving
This week may be final exam time for Princeton students, but the winter student-athletes are much closer to mid-term time in their respective seasons. While the No. 22 men's swimming and diving team and the No. 25 women's team have gotten off to solid starts this season, both know major challenges await them; the second half of the season, as well as the annual Senior Day, takes place Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Princeton men are 3-0 overall, 3-0 in the Ivy League, and are threatening to break into the national Top 20. The 2006 and 2007 league champions, Princeton is gearing itself up for a run at a third title in four years; DeNunzio Pool will host the 2009 Ivy League championships March 5-7. Its last showing in a three-day meet was an impressive one, as the Tigers nearly upset No. 5 Penn at the 2008 Big Al Open, an early December meet.
Princeton is led by tri-captains Doug Lennox, Robert Griest and Will Schaffer, each of whom could threaten for Ivy titles in March. Lennox is a two-time league champion, a 2008 All-America and a member of the Puerto Rican Olympic team last summer; he currently holds the top Ivy League times in four league events, including both of the fly events. Lennox has won both the 100 and 200 fly in the last two years and placed fourth in the 200 fly at the 2008 NCAA championships. Griest currently holds the top time in the 1000 free and Top 5 times in both the 500 and 1650, while Schaffer has Top 5 times in both the 200 and 400 IM, as well the sixth-best times in both the 100 and 200 breast.
The Princeton women are also 3-0, 3-0 in the Ivy League, and recently moved into the national Top 25 after finishing the 2007-08 season ranked 18th nationally. The three-time defending Ivy League champions know this year could prove to be the most challenging championship run over that span, but the Tigers have veterans who have shown the ability to raise their game when a title is on the line.
The Tigers are again led by junior and seven-time All-America Alicia Aemisegger, who has the Ivy League's top times in the 200 free, the 500 free, the 200 fly and the 400 IM. She is the reigning league champion in the 500, 1000 and 1650 and will undoubtedly be the favorite in whichever three individual events she competes in when the league championships are held Feb. 26-28 in Long Island, N.Y. Classmate Courtney Kilkuts holds Ivy League-best times in both the 200 breast and the 200 IM, while sophomore Megan Waters has posted the league's top time in the 50 free.
Both teams know that top times alone will not bring league titles back to DeNunzio Pool. Overall team depth is critical, and both coaching staffs will be looking for improvements up and down the lineup, beginning Sunday. A full event schedule can be found at the bottom of the story.
Princeton will also honor the seniors on both teams during the Dartmouth meet. The men's team seniors are Mike Carter, Easton Chen, Bern Ebersole, Dan Eckel, Doug Ellman, Yarden Fraiman, Robert Griest, Taylor Gutsche, Pete Hand, Jason Kawasaki, John Lamonaca, Doug Lennox, Danny O'Connor, Will Schaffer, Craig Schindewolf, Drew Wallace and Steve Zoller. The women's seniors are Dana Benedict, Meghan Capparell, Justina DiFazio, Monika Friedman, Katie Giarra, Peggy Kearns, Joelle Milov, Rebecca Nyquist and Shelby Rudd.
Admission is free Sunday. If you can't make it, sign up for TigerZone and you can watch the meet online live.
EVENT SCHEDULE
W 200 Medley relay
M 200 Medley relay
W 400 IM
M 400 IM
W 1000 free
M 1000 free
W 200 free
M 200 free
W 100 back
M 100 back
W 100 breast
M 100 breast
W 200 fly
M 200 fly
W 50 free
M 50 free
Diving (senior tributes)
W 100 free
M 100 free
W 200 back
M 200 back
W 200 breast
M 200 breast
W 500 free
M 500 free
W 100 fly
M 100 fly
Diving (senior tributes)
W 200 IM
M 200 IM
W 200 free relay
M 300 free relay