Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Ivy Champ Women's Swim/Dive Welcomes Talented Class Of 2014
May 25, 2010 | Women's Swimming and Diving
After reclaiming the Ivy League championship with a narrow, thrilling victory this past winter, Princeton women's swimming and diving head coach Susan Teeter is already looking ahead to future championship competitions. She is thrilled to announce a talented group of 15 swimmer and divers who will make up the program's Class of 2014.
Losses from the graduating Class of 2010, especially co-captains and multiple-time Ivy champions Alicia Aemisegger and Courtney Kilkuts, will be challenging to replace. However, the incoming class brings in a wealth of experience — ranging from school record holders to state championships and national qualifications — to a program that has set the standard in the Ivy League with nine of the last 11 championships.
They are also varied in their specialties (as seen below), which will allow Princeton to build on its already impressive depth. You can read the individual bios for the 12 swimmers and three divers below the list of swimmers' events.
SPRINT/MID FREE
Lisa Boyce
Julia Festa
Julia Hu
Katherine Kirkwood
Laura Loughran
Kacey Morris
Laura Slater
DISTANCE
Julia Festa
Maureen McCotter
Kacey Morris
BACK
Lisa Boyce
M.E. Jonas
Maureen McCotter
Kacey Morris
Karen Wang
BREAST
Andrea Kropp
Rebecca Lewinson
FLY
Lisa Boyce
Julia Hu
M.E. Jonas
Andrea Kropp
Rebecca Lewinson
Maureen McCotter
Laura Slater
Karen Wang
IM
Julia Hu
Andrea Kropp
Rebecca Lewinson
DIVING
Randi Brown
Emily Kaplan
Rachel Zambrowicz
THE CLASS OF 2014
Lisa Boyce
Before Princeton — qualified for Long Course Senior Nationals (100m back) and was a finalist for Long Course Junior Nationals (100m back, 200m free) … selected for the Central Zone Select Camp and the Illinois Senior Elite Meet … set the Central Zone meet record in the 100m back … topped several Illinois Top 10 lists … holds nine team records … named one of the News Gazette Top 10 Swimmers of the Decade and Swimmer of the Year while competing for University High … earned All-America and all-state honors … team MVP … went undefeated through regular season and sectionals … National Merit Finalist … three-time Scholastic All-America … Illinios state scholar … scored in the 99th percentile in the AATG National German Exam.
Top Times: 50 free - 23.41; 100 free - 50.65; 200 free - 1:51.30; 50 back - 26.39; 100 back - 55.24; 200 back - 2:02.09; 100 fly - 57.00; 200 IM - 2:06.93
Personal — born Dec. 5, 1993 … daughter of Kevin Boyce and Kazuko Suzuki … has a stepfather, Mike Brown … father is an astrophysicist; stepfather is a tax attorney … has an older brother Robert and a younger sister, Emi (Brown) … enjoys cooking, singing and writing.
Randi Brown
Before Princeton — won three Michigan state diving championships as a member of the East Grand Rapids high school squad … holds high school records in both six-dive (286) and 11-dive (505) competitions … three-time Division 3 Diver of the Year … two-time All-America … member of the MISCA 2009 Dream Team … Dartmouth Book Award recipient … National Honor Society member … Summa Cum Laude four years.
Personal — born March 8, 1992 … daughter of Dr. Michael and Jill Brown … has an older sister Nikki, who attends Dartmouth … interested in biology … enjoys kite surfing, skiing and traveling.
Julia Festa
Before Princeton — earned three Top 10 finishes at USA Nationals, including fifth-place finish in 1650; also recorded 10th-place finish in 1500m and 800m free relay … earned All-America honors in 500 four times … earned 2008 All-America honor in 200 free … Senior National qualifier in 2006 and 2007 … Junior National Qualifier from 2006 through 2010; qualified for six free events in 2010 … two-time Scholastic All-America … represented Great Neck South in five 500 free state finals … National Academic All-America … AP Scholar.
Personal — born Jan. 30, 1992 … daughter of Dr. Stephen Festa and Maureen Festa … father is a pediatric dentist; mother is a general dentist … older sister Natalia swam for Harvard and graduated in 2010 … enjoys the beach and swimming in the ocean.
Julia Hu
Before Princeton — earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-America honors … swam for Lynbrook High School, De Anza Cupertino Aquatics and Santa Clara Swim Club … qualified for state championships all four years; recorded Top-16 finishes in 100 fly, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … varsity captain as a senior … two-time recipient of the Lynbrook Scholar Athlete Award … National Merit Scholar.
Personal — born March 1, 1992 … daughter of Sean Hu and Ai Ling Guan … father is a computer engineer; mother is a Chinese teacher … has a younger brother James … interested in chemistry, economics and foreign languages … enjoys reading, music and biking.
M.E. Jonas
Before Princeton — won the100 back conference championship as a senior at St. Mary's Hall … placed second in three finals, including the 200 free over two years; also placed second in the 100 fly … earned all-state honors over her last three years … received the Ren Patterson Award for Spirit and Determination as a sophomore … Math Undergraduate Award recipient … member of the Cum Laude Society.
Personal — born Aug. 26, 1992 … daughter of Charlotte Pawel … has three brothers, William, Myles and Alden … interested in chemistry … enjoys dance.
Emily Kaplan
Before Princeton — earned All-America honors in diving 2009 … All-America qualifier in 2007, 2008 and 2010 … placed in Top 10 all four years in Georgia state championships; had career-best finish of second in 2009 … four-time Junior East Nationals qualifier … member of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society … recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award and the Citizenship Award … selected for the Art Studio and Peer Leadership as a senior.
Personal — born Feb. 17, 1992 … daughter of Howard Kaplan and Julie Edelson … has an older sister Janna … coaches a summer league diving team.
Katherine Kirkwood
Before Princeton — specializes in sprint events … member of the South Anchorage state swim team in 2009 and 2010 … member of the National Honor Society … National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar.
Personal — born May 18, 1992 … daughter of Rich and Jody Kirkwood … father is a lodge owner and manager; mother works in property management … has an older sister Christina '12, who is a member of the diving team at Princeton … interested in chemical engineering … enjoys baking, reading and travel to foreign countries.
Andrea Kropp
Before Princeton — nine-time All-America honoree … two-time CIF champion in the 100 breast … two-time National Junior Team member … Olympic Trial qualifier in four events, both breast and both IM events … first qualified for Olympic Trials at age 13 … holds Southern California age group records in 400 IM (11-12), 200 breast (11-12) and 100 breast (15-16) … holds four school records at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy: 50 free, 100 fly, 100 breast and 200 IM … also competes for the Rattler Swim Club … two-time all-state and all-CIF honoree in cross country … earned 2008 Pasadena Star-News Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Top Times: 100 breast – 1:01.23; 200 breast – 2:11.94; 200 IM – 2:00.43; 400 IM – 4:18.06; 100 fly – 57.43; 200 fly – 2:01.62.
Personal — born June 25, 1993 … daughter of Robert and Laura Kropp … father works in business; mother is a teacher … has a younger brother Peter … enjoys running, travel, interior design, ceramics and photography.
Rebecca Lewinson
Before Princeton — was ranked second nationally in the 200 breast as a 15-year-old … represented the United States at the 2009 World Maccabiah Games; won three medals, including gold in the 200 breast … 11-time All-America honoree … three-time New Jersey state champion in the 100 breast at nearby West Windsor-Plainsboro South … four-time all-state selection … four-time “Female Swimmer of the Year” for both the Trenton Times and the Trentonian … earned New Jersey Scholar-Athlete Award … three-time Scholastic All-America … National Honor Society member.
Top Times: 100 breast – 1:03.91; 200 breast – 2:16.48; 100 fly – 56.98; 200 fly – 2:03.98; 200 IM – 2:04.83; 400 IM – 4:27.27.
Personal — born May 29, 1992 … daughter of David and Ronda Lewinson … father is a landscape architect; mother is a nurse practitioner … has an older sister Rachel and a younger sister Jessica … enjoys music, food and the beach.
Laura Loughran
Before Princeton — earned All-America honors in the 200 and 500 free and 400 free relay at the Peddie School … finished second in Eastern championships three times in the 200 free … recorded three top-four finishes in the 500 free at Easterns … part of New Jersey state record holder in the 400 free and medley relays … senior captain and four-year varsity athlete … recipient of Clinton I. Sprout Swimming Cup … Cum Laude and AP Scholar with Distinction honoree … winner of Wellesley College book award.
Personal — born June 18, 1992 … daughter of Chris Loughran '79 and Jan Denise '81, both of whom graduated from Princeton … has an older brother Rory '13 who competes for the men's swimming team … has two younger siblings, Shannon and David … interested in English and history … enjoys baking, reading and music.
Maureen McCotter
Before Princeton — won five New Jersey state swimming titles: three in the 500 free, two in the 200 free … USA Junior National and U.S. Open qualifier … three-time first-team all-state honoree … 2009 Jersey Wahoos National Team Swimmer of the Year … three-time Bishop Eustace MVP … multiple-time Jersey Wahoos MVP … Bill Maschke Scholar-Athlete Award honoree … National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member … Principal's List honoree.
Top Times: 100 free – 53.38; 200 free – 1:51.66; 500 free – 4:51.26; 1000 free – 9:47.11; 1650 free – 16:28.78; 100 back – 59.23; 200 back – 2:02.73; 100 fly – 58.54; 200 fly – 2:03.44; 100 breast – 1:18.55; 200 breast – 2:47.10; 200 IM – 2:09.4; 400 IM – 4:26.56.
Personal — born July 13, 1992 … daughter of John and Anne McCotter … father is a technician; mother is a lunch aid … has an older sister Meaghan and a younger sister Anne Marie … sings in her school's concert choir … enjoys pilates and spinning.
Kasey Morris
Before Princeton — earned four All-America honors while competing for Oscar Smith High School … … won Virginia AAA state title and holds state record in 400 meter short course free … holds NISCA National Public School record in the 400 short course meter free … went undefeated in regular season dual meets for all four years … four-time team MVP … three-time team captain … swam for Tidewater Aquatic Club … qualified for both USA Swimming Junior and Senior Nationals … six-event qualifier in NCSA Junior Nationals … three-time Virginia Swimming senior championships … five-time club team MVP … international baccalaureate program student … National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and French Club member.
Top Times: 100 back – 56.24; 200 back – 2:01.52; 200 free – 1:50.15; 500 free – 4:50.08; 1000 free – 9:57.90; 1650 free – 16:40.04.
Personal – born Nov. 21, 1991 … daughter of David and Pamela Morris … father is a General Officer in the Army; mother is an artists … has three older brothers: Josh, Brett and Matt … has numerous animals: four cats, two horses, two dogs, a bearded dragon, a turtle and a snake … has lived in Germany and England … enjoys reading, painting, video games and horseback riding.
Laura Slater
Before Princeton — seven-time All-America honoree … U.S. Junior National qualifier in the 50 free and 100 free … member of the national record-setting girls' 17-18 200 free relay … holds the Redwood High records in the 50 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation … three-time U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-America … AP Scholar.
Top Times: 50 free – 23.71; 100 free – 51.63; 200 free – 1:53.11; 100 fly – 57.48.
Personal — born June 3, 1992 … daughter of Mark and Anne Slater … father is an attorney; mother is an attorney and community volunteer … has a younger brother David … interested in environmental science and public policy … enjoys baking, classic films and shopping.
Karen Wang
Before Princeton — two-time North Coast Section champion in the 100 back … NISCA All-America honoree … league record holder in the 100 back … Winter Nationals finalist in the 100 fly, 100 back and 200 back … swam both back events in the 2008 Olympic Trials … Pacific Swimming Most Outstanding Age Group Swimmer … school record holder in the 100 fly, 50 free, 200 free and 100 back … three-time Scholastic All-America … AP Scholar with Honors … Valley Care Scholarship recipient … National Merit Scholarship commended student … National Honors French student.
Top Times: 100 back – 54.77; 200 back – 1:56.6; 100 free – 50.69; 200 free – 1:50.08; 100 fly – 55.6; 200 IM – 2:02.8.
Personal — daughter of Dr. Jason and Jennifer Wang … father is a software developer; mother was formerly an accountant, now is a homemaker … has an older sister Casey and a younger brother Sean … enjoys cycling, reading and hiking.
Rachel Zambrowicz
Before Princeton — qualified for Spring Junior West Nationals in three-meter diving three times and one-meter once … qualified for Summer East Junior Championships in the one-meter, three-meter and platform competition; placed third in both the three-meter and platform competition … qualified on all three boards for 2007 Summer nationals … John Cooper High School valedictorian … top scholar in 10th and 11th grade … Cum Laude society member.
Personal — born May 22, 1992 … daughter of Brian and Brenda Zambrowicz … has an older sister Brittney … interested in science and math … enjoys snowboarding, cooking and tennis.