.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Villanova
Players Mentioned
Princeton Claims Thriller To Win Senior Day, Final Susan Teeter Home Meet Over Villanova
January 13, 2017 | Women's Swimming and Diving
During an emotional afternoon meet, the Princeton women's swimming and diving team rallied for a 162-138 victory over Villanova Friday. The showdown served as both the Senior Day meet, as well as the final home meet in the legendary career of head coach Susan Teeter, who will retire at the end of the season.
It didn't come easy, but Teeter picked up her 223rd victory in comeback fashion, as Princeton (4-2) rallied over the second half of Friday's meet to defeat a talented Villanova (4-2) squad. The Tigers won five of the last six events, including an exciting finale in the 200 free relay (see below) to clinch the win.
33 years in, winning still matters to @steeter. Watch her reaction to @pucsdt winning the final event - and meet - of her DeNunzio career! pic.twitter.com/6l9dzQ4Lhx
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) January 13, 2017
Senior Olivia Chan, swimming for the final time at DeNunzio Pool, helped the Tigers get off to a strong start by joining the trio of Gianna Garcia, Elsa Welshofer, and Maddy Veith to win the 200 medley relay in 1:44.45, more than a second faster than the rest of the field. Chan added to the impressive Senior Day showing by giving the Tigers their first individual win in the 100 breast, though it would take a terrific finish against freshman teammate Shaelyn Choi to get it done. Chan won in 1:05.12, while Choi took second in 1:05.21.
Princeton freshman Elaine Zhou followed by winning the 200 fly in 2:02.46, and Maddy Veith added runner-up finishes in both the 50 free (23.98) and 100 free (52.03). Reigning Ivy League champion Lindsay Temple took second in the 200 back (2:00.66), an event that left Princeton down 14 points with only five events remaining.
This was not a meet the Tigers were about to lose, though. Choi won the 200 breast (2:21.36) by nearly two full seconds to begin the final Tiger charge, and Isabel Reis built on it with a thrilling finish in the 500 free. Reis led most of the race, while Villanova's Emily Mayo began to creep up over the final 100 meters. Reis dug deep over the final 25 and held off her hard-charging opponent to claim the win in 4:58.09, and the Tigers were suddenly down only two points. Choi would add another second place finish in the 400 IM (4:30.17) for more key points later on.
While the veteran head coach was looking for her final dual victory in DeNunzio, the rookie was looking for his first, and the duo worked well together to get it done. Diving coach Drew Livingston, in his first home meet, helped Princeton sweep both diving events to pick up key points in the dual. Seniors Lisa Li (3-meter, 283.20) and Yasmeen Almog (1-meter, 267.30) join Chan as Senior Day winners for the Tigers, and Princeton went 1-2-3 on the 1-meter board to nearly secure the dual win. Almog clinched her own spot at the Zone Diving Championships with her performance on the 1-meter board.
Senior Katie Diller led off the victorious 200 free relay, as she joined with Temple, Reis, and Veith to clinch the team win in 1:34.56.
During the meet, Princeton honored both the Class of 2017 and Teeter during separate breaks in the dual. The latter belonged to Teeter, winner of 17 Ivy League championships, who will retire at the end of the season. After her accomplishments were ready to the appreciative DeNunzio crowd, she hugged several alumni before joining her team for a group shot.
Meanwhile, the Class of 2017 earned its 11th home dual win over their careers. Below are bios, written by their teammates, of the Class of 2017:
Yasmeen Almog is a diver from Edina, Minnesota. She is a springboard diver, with strong and consistent performances on both the one and three meter boards. Yasmeen is a Computer Science Engineering major, and is currently working on a thesis applicable to the sport; she is developing a computer program that objectively scores dives from video feed through a series of algorithms and computations. Before diving, Yasmeen was very competitive in trampoline, and she also enjoys activities such as hiking, skiing, and backpacking. On any given day, this trendsetter can be found shuffling around campus in her white crocs. Her contagious laugh and smile is truly one of a kind!
Hailing from New Hyde Park, N.Y., Olivia Chan is a force to be reckoned with in the breaststroke and IM events. She has had great success in her swim career at Princeton; she's been a part of 3 Ivy teams, has posted multiple Princeton all-time top 10 times and received several all-Ivy League honors. Out of the pool, Via is a Sociology major with a certificate in American Studies. She is also the proud dog sitter of PUCSDT's honorary team dog, Chester. Other than creating beautiful drawings and sculptures, Via enjoys playing the viola, snapping selfies and eating donuts. Her infectious positivity, compassion and sense of humor that she brings to DeNunzio will be missed next year, and we wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors!
Deborah Daly, a member of the Woodrow Wilson School, is from Andover, Massachusetts, and she is one of the most genuine and passionate divers that PUCSDT has to offer. She gives everything that she has to her sport, even when injured, and is always there for her teammates as a leader and for support. It takes time to get to know Deb, but once you do take that time, you'll discover someone with remarkable will power and an extreme humbleness. Her drive and desire to be the best that she can be both in and out of the pool is an inspiration for all of us and pushes all who are around her to do more. When Deb is not practicing 1 or 3 meter, she spends her time at Cloister where she is an officer, in Frist studying for her classes and hanging out with the team, or in Starbucks, one of her favorite study/hangout spots. As one of the most humble and down to earth girls on this team, Deb embodies a real leader for all of us.
Katherine Diller is a sprint freestyler from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Daughter of John and Gail Diller and sister to Perry Diller, Katie Diller is concentrating in the Woodrow Wilson School with an honorary certificate in Starbucks Coffee Tasting. When she's not leading off the 4 x 100 relay to clinch the tie between Harvard at HYP, she can be found sitting in cannon watching Glimore Girls and working on her thesis. Katie is currently writing her thesis on the effects of poor health and exposure to stress in early childhood on a child's readiness to learn at age five. After graduation she will be working at the Advisory Board Company in DC as a Strategic Health Care Analyst.
Alice Eltvedt is from Princeton Junction, N.J., and is an Astrophysics major. She is fluent in three languages and is also a citizen in three different countries. In her free time, Alice loves to dance and is a member of Raqs Odalisque, a dance troupe here at Princeton. Alice is planning on attending grad school, and is currently writing her Senior Thesis on the ionization of the intergalactic medium at low red shifts. Most of all, Alice has crushed it on the boards during her time at Princeton, and she will surely be missed. Best of luck, Alice!
Rebecca Fleming is a distance swimmer from Short Hills, New Jersey. She has been a strong competitor in the 500, 1000, and 1650 during her four years swimming for Princeton and has spots in both the 1000 and mile on the All-Time Top 10 list. Becca has always been a top contender in the pool, and during the 2014-2015 season she helped Princeton towards their HYP tie with Harvard by winning the 1000 with Princeton's fastest time of the year. When not in the pool, Becca is working hard towards earning her Politics degree and getting ready to work for Bank of America after graduation. Thank you so much for your dedication to the PUCSDT family, Becca. The D group will miss you!!
Melissa Fulenwider is an accomplished swimmer from Rye, New York. Being primarily a breaststroker, she also competes in both mid-distance freestyle and IM events. She was a member of the 2014-2015 Ivy League Championship team as well as a top-8 finalist in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes. In addition to being a hard-working and successful swimmer, she is majoring in Politics with a certificate in American Studies. She is well-involved with her academics, having studied at Oxford and is currently a writer for Business Today: a Princeton-based magazine that strives to build the gap between top leading executives and undergraduate students. Her senior thesis involves transitional justice and redressing human rights violations in Latin America. We will miss her dedication and enthusiasm she has for everything she does.
Delaney Johnson is a sprint freestyler from Elkins, West Virginia. She is a Molecular Biology major with a minor in Global Health & Health Policy. As captain and loyal member of the sprint group, Delaney leads by example and always encourages her teammates to give their best effort during practice. Out of the water, she crushes squat & bench in the weight room (#strongwomen). Delaney is writing her thesis on the role of human satellite repeat 2 in cytomegalovirus. Post-graduation, she hopes to eventually go back to school, likely medical school. Thank you Delaney for being a steady, reliable, and even-keeled friend!
Victoria Lepesant, daughter of Marc and Anne, is a senior from Pasadena, California. At Princeton she has competed in primarily the distance freestyle, butterfly, and IM events. In 2013, Victoria posted top five Princeton Swimming times in both the 1000 free and the 1650. She is a Woodrow Wilson School Major, writing her thesis on Muslim integration into French Culture and Society, and the effects of French Legislation. Victoria is currently interviewing for jobs, with the intent of pursuing a career in law. Victoria has stepped up over the last four years to become the team's unofficial videographer, recording training trip and competition memories. On Campus, she is actively involved in Kappa Alpha Theta, and Cannon Dial Elm Club. Her eye for style and great sense of humor will be missed by her teammates.
Lisa Li is a diver from Monterey Park, California. She is a strong performer on both the one-meter and three-meter springboards, and was a contributing member of the Ivy League Championship team her freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Lisa is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major. She spent last summer doing research in Africa, and is currently wiring a thesis on how immunization campaigns improves immunization coverage, as well as people's knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination in India. After graduation, Lisa plans to do a fellowship before continuing on to accept her job offer. Little known to most, Lisa is a bubble tea connoisseur. She can usually be found sipping on this sweet beverage somewhere around campus.
Kathleen Mulligan is an EEB major from Phoenix, Az., and is a true Tiger inside and out. She is not only passionate about her sport, but she is passionate about her teammates as well. She swims the back and freestyle events, and when she isn't swimming she is loudly cheering. You will see her on the pool deck encouraging her teammates in a crazy orange hat, yelling at the top of her voice and arms waving with the upmost enthusiasm. When she's not at the pool, Kathleen is either practicing for her a cappella group, the Tigressions, hanging out or studying in Cannon, or relaxing with her teammates after a long day of practices. Kathleen is one of the kindest, most sincere individuals and we are so proud and lucky to have her as a teammate and member of the PUCSDT family.
Isabel Shipman is a distance freestyler from Westchester, New York. She is a history major and is writing her thesis on Anglo-American diplomacy during World War II. Isabel brings some spunk to the D-group where her hard work doesn't go unnoticed. She leads by example and encourages teammates to push through grueling practices. Post-graduation Isabel will be working in the finance industry in New York City for Guggenheim Partners. She would like to thank her parents for their unwavering support over the years!
