PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton Tigers swimming and diving team is set to face off against Ivy League rivals Penn and Cornell in Philadelphia. The competition will take place at Drexel Pool, with diving events kicking off on November 22 and pool events scheduled for November 23 at 3:00 PM.
Princeton athletes recently made waves with impressive performances, breaking five pool records at DeNunzio Pool. The team of Yanning Zhang, Patrick Dinu, Logan Noguchi, and Brett Feyerick set a new record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:29.94. Zhang also achieved a remarkable individual record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 47.13. Following him, Dinu made headlines by breaking the 100 freestyle record at 42.91. Mitch Schott delivered a stunning performance in the 200 butterfly, breaking the pool record by 5.5 seconds, finishing with a time of 1:42.22, the second-fastest time in the program’s history. The day concluded with a record-setting time of 2:54.26 in the 400 freestyle relay by the team of Schott, Zhang, Noguchi, and Dinu.
Freshman Patrick Dinu made an impressive debut on November 9 at his first collegiate meet, shattering records with a 100 freestyle time of 42.51 and a 100 breaststroke time of 53.49. His outstanding performance marks a promising start to his college career.
Meanwhile, junior captain Mitch Schott is off to a strong season, having set a new personal best in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:32.78, ranking him among the top ten fastest times in four events within the program.
In diving, sophomore Aidan Wang showcased his skills by winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. His teammates, Luca Fassi and George Callanan, also placed well, finishing second and third respectively in both diving events.
Following a stellar opening weekend, Princeton has climbed to the No. 25 position in the November CSCAA dual meet poll. Several athletes including Wang, Fassi, and Callanan have also represented Princeton at the NCAA Championships in various diving events.
The Tigers have a strong roster, returning eight athletes who earned All-Ivy honors last season. Aidan Wang and Noah Sech received First Team acknowledgments, while several others earned Second Team spots for their performances in various events.
Notably, swimmers and divers from Princeton have made their mark on the Olympic trials, with representatives from 12 different countries competing for a chance to secure spots for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Adell Sabovic represented Kosovo in the 100 meter freestyle and had the honor of being the flag bearer during the closing ceremony.
As the Tigers welcome a talented group of ten newcomers from the class of 2028, including standout swimmers such as Tomaz Chevres, Santiago Gutierrez, and Patrick Dinu, there’s an exciting future ahead for the program.
Schott, Feyerick, and Hong have been named captains for the 2024-25 season, poised to lead the team with their experiences and drive.
With a combination of record-breaking performances, strong team spirit, and new talent, Princeton’s swimming and diving team looks forward to a promising season filled with challenges and triumphs. This optimism reflects the team’s commitment to excel and continue building on its legacy in collegiate swimming and diving.