Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Day Three
Players Mentioned
Boyce Caps Perfect Weekend With Trio Of Ivy League Individual Championships
February 26, 2012 | Women's Swimming and Diving
In a spirited competition throughout a hard-fought weekend, the Princeton women's swimming and diving team placed second at the 2012 Ivy League Championship meet. Harvard, which hosted both the H-Y-P meet and the conference championships this year, won the title with 1478.5 points. Princeton, led by a brilliant weekend from sophomore Lisa Boyce, took second with 1310.5 points.
"I'm very pleased and proud with how we competed this weekend," head coach Susan Teeter said. "With as much talent as Harvard brought into its own pool, I think people expected them to run away with it. Instead, we showed our championship spirit, and we made them earn every point they scored. We congratulate Harvard on the title, but even more, we congratulate the entire league on another great meet. I'm so happy to see all eight teams raise the level of this weekend so considerably."
Princeton has won 10 of the last 13 Ivy League titles. In the previous years during that stretch when Princeton didn't win a title, the Tigers found their way back to the top of the mountain one year later. In fact, the last team other than Princeton to win consecutive Ivy League titles was Brown, which accomplished the feat between 1998-99.
"Winning 10 of the last 13 Ivy League championships has certainly been a great thrill for myself, our teams and the amazing alumni who continuously support us," Teeter said. "But it has always been the fight that Princeton women have shown that has made me the most proud, and this team honored that tradition throughout this weekend. I can already tell they have turned their thoughts to 2013, and reclaiming our spot atop the Ivies."
Princeton put significant distance between itself and the remaining six Ivy League teams, including third-place Yale (1075.5 points) and fourth-place Columbia (1057 points).
Boyce capped a perfect individual weekend with an Ivy League championship in the 100 free during Saturday's final session. Trailing midway through her final, she went 25.35 in the final 50 to surpass Yale's Alex Forrester and win her third title in as many nights. Boyce had already won titles in the 50 free and the 100 back.
"To follow in the recent tradition of 13-time All-America Alicia Aemisegger '10 and last year's Ivy Swimmer of the Meet Megan Waters '11 by sweeping her individual events shows the level of swimmer that Lisa Boyce can become," said Teeter. "I say 'become' because, while she proved this weekend that she is already a fantastic competitor, her incredible work ethic makes me believe that we will see even more out of her in the next two years. We have so much talented youth already on this roster, and I can't wait to see how much this weekend will motivate them moving forward."
Princeton opened the night with a pair of top-six finishes in the 1650. Freshman Reese Iriondo took fifth in 16:41.44, while senior Lauren Shanley took sixth in 16:46.98. Sophomore Maureen McCotter added a ninth-place finish in 16:54.05.
Princeton placed two in the final of the 200 back. Freshman Shirley Wang took fifth in 1:59.59, while classmate Courtney Ciardiello finished eighth in 2:02.81. They were the lone freshmen to reach the championship final. Senior co-captain Meredith Monroe capped her brilliant Ivy League individual career by winning the 'B' final in 2:00.45.
Boyce followed the back with her championship effort in the 100. She has now won four individual Ivy League titles in her career, including the 100 back from the 2011 championship meet. She has placed in the top three in each of her Ivy League individual finals.
A pair of freshmen were Princeton's top finishers in the 200 breast. Sarah Liang took 11th in a time of 2:18.04, while Cara Slear finished 12th in 2:19.22. Seniors Caitlin Baran (2:19.48) and Kerry Gruendel (2:20.83) placed 13th and 15th, respectively, while freshman Emily Yu took 16th in 2:22.25.
Junior Carter Stephens placed fifth in the 200 fly in 2:00.93. Ciardiello took 13th in 2:03.73, while junior Kathy Qu took 15th in 2:04.50.
Princeton placed three divers in the 3-meter championship final. Sophomore Randi Brown completed her strong weekend with a third-place finish with 279.55 points. Classmate Rachel Zambrowicz took sixth with 263.65 points, while senior Christina Kirkwood finished eighth with 228.05 points. Kirkwood left her final conference meet with her first Ivy League individual title, won on the 1-meter board Thursday.
Princeton completed the weekend with a fourth-place finish in the 400 free relay. The quartet of Boyce, Claire Loht, Iriondo and Stephens completed Princeton's final swim in a B-cut time of 3:22.46.