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Men’s Swimming & Diving Welcomes Eight Newcomers for Class of 2027
June 13, 2023 | Men's Swimming and Diving
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University men's swimming & diving team will welcome eight talented newcomers as its Class of 2027, as announced by Head Coach Matt Crispino.
"We're excited to welcome eight new Tigers to Princeton this fall," said Crispino. "These young men represent all that is good about Princeton. Their values are aligned with our team's, they are committed to excellence in all they do, and they are driven to win. They are talented and they are hungry! I expect the class of 2027 will make an immediate impact on the boards, in the pool, and in their new community."
The Tigers' Class of 2027 consists of Arthur Balva, Connor Buck, Luca Fassi, Parker Lenoce, Daniel Li, Noah Sech, Aidan Wang and Yanning Zhang. They will join a group of returners who finished a close second at the 2023 Ivy League Championships, and ended the season ranked No. 24 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Dual Meet Top-25. Princeton also had a 7-3 record in dual meets in 2022-23.
Aidan Wang
Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland
High School: Thomas S. Wootton
Event: Diving
Pre-Princeton Top Scores: 1m 11 dives: 587.15, 3m 11 dives: 575.00, Platform 10 dives: 516.25
Before Princeton: USA Diving Tier 3 High Performance Squad member … 2022 US Open Championships 10m Men's Synchro 1st place (First Alternate for 2022 World Cup) … 2023 USA Diving Senior Nationals 10m Mixed Synchro 2nd place (First Alternate for 2023 Senior World Championships … 2022 US Open Men's 10m 5th place … 2022 Zone Championships 1st place 1m, 3m, Platform … 2023 Maryland High School State Champion … 3x HS All American … 4.0 unweighted GPA … 2023 Academic All-American
Personal: Son of Zhongchun Wang and Lynn Huang … brother of Nancy, Helena and Jessica … sister Jessica played volleyball at the University of Chicago … majoring in Computer Science
Arthur Balva
High School: Palo Alto
Top Times: Palo Alto, Calif.
Events: IM/Fly
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCM 200 Fly 1:44.55, 400 IM 3:53.32, 200 IM 1:47.58, 100 Fly 47.76 LCM 200 Fly 2:00.47, 400 IM 4:29.45, 200 IM 2:05.48, 100 Fly 55.12
Before Princeton: 2022 International Team Trials Qualifier - 200 Fly … 2x USA Swimming 2022 Futures Champion - 200 Fly, 200 IM … 3x USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
Swam Legs on two Pacific Swimming Record Relays: 15-18 200 Meter Relay (1:33.21), 15-16 200 Yard Free Relay (1:23.98) … 4x Individual CCS Champion (Our High School Section) in the 200 IM and 100 Fly both in 2022 and 2023 … 2x Team CCS Champions (only two in school history) … Swam Legs on three High School Record Relays: 200 Medley Relay (1:31.19), 200 Free Relay (1:21.81), 400 Free Relay (2:59.67) … Runner-up in 200 Free Relay at 2022 CIF (California) State Meet and 400 Free Relay at 2023 CIF State Meet, 2023 200 Free Relay broke previous state record though placed third … 2021-22 Most Valuable Team member from Club Team (PASA) … Coaches Award 2023 from High School Team … 2023 Team Captain of both Club and High School Team … 2023 Design and Build Lead on Community FTC Robotics Team … in 2022, that same team won the Design Award at the World FTC Competition … 2022 AP Scholar with Distinction … 2022 TSA TEAMS Club President
Personal: Son of Alex and Ann Balva … has a younger brother, Maxwell Balva … majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Connor Buck
Hometown: Durban, South Africa
High School: Clifton School
Events: Free
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCM 1500 Free 15:35.56, 800 Free 8:08.00, 400 Free 3:57.97 LCM 1500 free 15:45.62, 800 Free 8:15.71, 400 Free 3:59.15
Before Princeton: Current South African Open Water Champion in 10km and 5km … 2x winner of the Midmar Mile (2022 & 2023) … placed 6th in 10km at 2022 Junior World Open Water Champs … awarded high schools's Honors Cum Laude award for achieving an aggregate of over 90% for matric year academic results.
Personal: Son of Kerri and Craig Buck … has an older sister, Donae
Luca Fassi
Hometown: Altadena, Calif.
High School: Marshall Fundamental
Event: Diving
Pre-Princeton Top Scores: Platform 511.45, 3M 558.95
Before Princeton: 2022 high school Swim & Dive MVP … 2019 Junior Pan American Championships U.S. team member … 2022 Junior World Championships U.S. team member … NHS member … AP Seminar and Research Certificate recipient
Personal: Son of Antonella Fassi and Lorenzo Fassi … has a brother, Teo Fassi
Noah Sech
Hometown: San Clemente, Calif.
High School: San Clemente
Events: IM/Breast
Top Times: SCY 400 IM 3:51, 200 IM 1:47.1, 200 Free 1:37.2, 200 Breast 1:58 LCM 400 IM 4:22.2, 200 IM 2:02.90, 200 Free 1:50.5, 200 Breast 2:17.2
Before Princeton: Achieved Olympic Trials qualifying times in both the 200 IM and the 400 IM … Two way Immersion/Seal of Biliteracy award
Personal: Son of Robert and Delphi Sech … has a brother Elijah, who graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and was a member of the cross country/track & field team … has a younger brother (Gabriel) and a younger sister (Helen) … intending to major in math
Parker Lenoce
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
High School: Staples
Events: Back/Free/IM
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCY 100 Back 48.78, 200 Back 1:47.59, 200 Free 1:39.02, 500 Free 4:29.18, 400 IM 3:56.25 LCM 100 Back 57.32, 200 Back 2:06.00, 200 Free 1:54.52, 400 Free 4:07.69
Before Princeton: Two-year USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … High school All-American … First honors … AP Scholar
Personal: Son of Michael Lenoce and Whitney Ross … his mother Whitney swam at the University of Calgary … has a sister, Morgan Lenoce, who swims at Trinity College … majoring in economics
Daniel Li
Hometown: Austin, Texas
High School: Westlake
Events: Free/Back/IM
Pre-Princeton Top Times: 50 Free 19.93, 100 Back 48.18, 200 IM 1:47.17 LCM 400 Free 3:55.38
Before Princeton: 4x200 Junior National Champion/Meet Record Holder … Top 5% at high school, National Merit Semifinalist, Academic All-American
Personal: Son of Jianwen Shen and Junsong Li … has a brother, Brian Li, who swims at MIT … majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Yanning Zhang
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
High School: Camberwell Grammar
Events: Back/Free/IM
Top Times: SCM 50 Back 24.67, 100 Back 53.00, 50 Free 22.25, 100 IM 55,34 LCM 50 Back 25.98, 100 Back 56.72, 50 Free 24.37, 200 IM 2:06.75
Before Princeton: Captain of the high school swim team … member of the Swimming Victoria team … National swim titles … multiple state records … awards for achievements in English and Further Mathematics … School scholar award
Personal: Son of Ziliang Zhang and Jie Shao … major is currently undecided
"We're excited to welcome eight new Tigers to Princeton this fall," said Crispino. "These young men represent all that is good about Princeton. Their values are aligned with our team's, they are committed to excellence in all they do, and they are driven to win. They are talented and they are hungry! I expect the class of 2027 will make an immediate impact on the boards, in the pool, and in their new community."
The Tigers' Class of 2027 consists of Arthur Balva, Connor Buck, Luca Fassi, Parker Lenoce, Daniel Li, Noah Sech, Aidan Wang and Yanning Zhang. They will join a group of returners who finished a close second at the 2023 Ivy League Championships, and ended the season ranked No. 24 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Dual Meet Top-25. Princeton also had a 7-3 record in dual meets in 2022-23.
Aidan Wang
Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland
High School: Thomas S. Wootton
Event: Diving
Pre-Princeton Top Scores: 1m 11 dives: 587.15, 3m 11 dives: 575.00, Platform 10 dives: 516.25
Before Princeton: USA Diving Tier 3 High Performance Squad member … 2022 US Open Championships 10m Men's Synchro 1st place (First Alternate for 2022 World Cup) … 2023 USA Diving Senior Nationals 10m Mixed Synchro 2nd place (First Alternate for 2023 Senior World Championships … 2022 US Open Men's 10m 5th place … 2022 Zone Championships 1st place 1m, 3m, Platform … 2023 Maryland High School State Champion … 3x HS All American … 4.0 unweighted GPA … 2023 Academic All-American
Personal: Son of Zhongchun Wang and Lynn Huang … brother of Nancy, Helena and Jessica … sister Jessica played volleyball at the University of Chicago … majoring in Computer Science
Arthur Balva
High School: Palo Alto
Top Times: Palo Alto, Calif.
Events: IM/Fly
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCM 200 Fly 1:44.55, 400 IM 3:53.32, 200 IM 1:47.58, 100 Fly 47.76 LCM 200 Fly 2:00.47, 400 IM 4:29.45, 200 IM 2:05.48, 100 Fly 55.12
Before Princeton: 2022 International Team Trials Qualifier - 200 Fly … 2x USA Swimming 2022 Futures Champion - 200 Fly, 200 IM … 3x USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
Swam Legs on two Pacific Swimming Record Relays: 15-18 200 Meter Relay (1:33.21), 15-16 200 Yard Free Relay (1:23.98) … 4x Individual CCS Champion (Our High School Section) in the 200 IM and 100 Fly both in 2022 and 2023 … 2x Team CCS Champions (only two in school history) … Swam Legs on three High School Record Relays: 200 Medley Relay (1:31.19), 200 Free Relay (1:21.81), 400 Free Relay (2:59.67) … Runner-up in 200 Free Relay at 2022 CIF (California) State Meet and 400 Free Relay at 2023 CIF State Meet, 2023 200 Free Relay broke previous state record though placed third … 2021-22 Most Valuable Team member from Club Team (PASA) … Coaches Award 2023 from High School Team … 2023 Team Captain of both Club and High School Team … 2023 Design and Build Lead on Community FTC Robotics Team … in 2022, that same team won the Design Award at the World FTC Competition … 2022 AP Scholar with Distinction … 2022 TSA TEAMS Club President
Personal: Son of Alex and Ann Balva … has a younger brother, Maxwell Balva … majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Connor Buck
Hometown: Durban, South Africa
High School: Clifton School
Events: Free
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCM 1500 Free 15:35.56, 800 Free 8:08.00, 400 Free 3:57.97 LCM 1500 free 15:45.62, 800 Free 8:15.71, 400 Free 3:59.15
Before Princeton: Current South African Open Water Champion in 10km and 5km … 2x winner of the Midmar Mile (2022 & 2023) … placed 6th in 10km at 2022 Junior World Open Water Champs … awarded high schools's Honors Cum Laude award for achieving an aggregate of over 90% for matric year academic results.
Personal: Son of Kerri and Craig Buck … has an older sister, Donae
Luca Fassi
Hometown: Altadena, Calif.
High School: Marshall Fundamental
Event: Diving
Pre-Princeton Top Scores: Platform 511.45, 3M 558.95
Before Princeton: 2022 high school Swim & Dive MVP … 2019 Junior Pan American Championships U.S. team member … 2022 Junior World Championships U.S. team member … NHS member … AP Seminar and Research Certificate recipient
Personal: Son of Antonella Fassi and Lorenzo Fassi … has a brother, Teo Fassi
Noah Sech
Hometown: San Clemente, Calif.
High School: San Clemente
Events: IM/Breast
Top Times: SCY 400 IM 3:51, 200 IM 1:47.1, 200 Free 1:37.2, 200 Breast 1:58 LCM 400 IM 4:22.2, 200 IM 2:02.90, 200 Free 1:50.5, 200 Breast 2:17.2
Before Princeton: Achieved Olympic Trials qualifying times in both the 200 IM and the 400 IM … Two way Immersion/Seal of Biliteracy award
Personal: Son of Robert and Delphi Sech … has a brother Elijah, who graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and was a member of the cross country/track & field team … has a younger brother (Gabriel) and a younger sister (Helen) … intending to major in math
Parker Lenoce
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
High School: Staples
Events: Back/Free/IM
Pre-Princeton Top Times: SCY 100 Back 48.78, 200 Back 1:47.59, 200 Free 1:39.02, 500 Free 4:29.18, 400 IM 3:56.25 LCM 100 Back 57.32, 200 Back 2:06.00, 200 Free 1:54.52, 400 Free 4:07.69
Before Princeton: Two-year USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … High school All-American … First honors … AP Scholar
Personal: Son of Michael Lenoce and Whitney Ross … his mother Whitney swam at the University of Calgary … has a sister, Morgan Lenoce, who swims at Trinity College … majoring in economics
Daniel Li
Hometown: Austin, Texas
High School: Westlake
Events: Free/Back/IM
Pre-Princeton Top Times: 50 Free 19.93, 100 Back 48.18, 200 IM 1:47.17 LCM 400 Free 3:55.38
Before Princeton: 4x200 Junior National Champion/Meet Record Holder … Top 5% at high school, National Merit Semifinalist, Academic All-American
Personal: Son of Jianwen Shen and Junsong Li … has a brother, Brian Li, who swims at MIT … majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Yanning Zhang
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
High School: Camberwell Grammar
Events: Back/Free/IM
Top Times: SCM 50 Back 24.67, 100 Back 53.00, 50 Free 22.25, 100 IM 55,34 LCM 50 Back 25.98, 100 Back 56.72, 50 Free 24.37, 200 IM 2:06.75
Before Princeton: Captain of the high school swim team … member of the Swimming Victoria team … National swim titles … multiple state records … awards for achievements in English and Further Mathematics … School scholar award
Personal: Son of Ziliang Zhang and Jie Shao … major is currently undecided
Players Mentioned
IM/Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
IM/Breast
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free/IM
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