The Princeton Tigers swimming and diving team is set to compete in Philadelphia against Ivy League rivals Penn and Cornell. The diving events will kick off on November 22, followed by the pool competitions on November 23 at 3:00 PM, all taking place at Drexel Pool.
Recently, Princeton made headlines by breaking five pool records during their events. The 200 medley relay team, consisting of Yanning Zhang, Patrick Dinu, Logan Noguchi, and Brett Feyerick, set a new benchmark with a time of 1:29.94. Yanning Zhang also shattered an individual record in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 47.13 seconds, while Patrick Dinu claimed a new record in the 100 freestyle at 42.91 seconds. Mitch Schott made a significant impact by breaking the pool record in the 200 butterfly, finishing at 1:42.22, marking the second-fastest time in program history. The day concluded with a stellar performance in the 400 freestyle relay by Schott, Zhang, Noguchi, and Dinu, who clocked a time of 2:54.26.
A standout newcomer, Patrick Dinu, made a remarkable debut at his first collegiate meet, setting both a program record and a freshman record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 42.51 seconds, along with a 53.49 in the 100 breaststroke.
Another key performer, junior captain Mitch Schott, has had a phenomenal start this season, breaking his own record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:32.78, positioning himself among the top 10 fastest times for four different events.
On the diving side, sophomore Aidan Wang excelled, winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter events, while teammates Luca Fassi and George Callanan secured second and third places respectively in the 1-meter competition, with Callanan also taking second in the 3-meter event.
Following these impressive performances, Princeton has climbed to the No. 25 position in the CSCAA dual meet poll. Wang, Fassi, and Callanan represented the team at the recent NCAA Championships, showcasing their skills on both the 1-Meter and 3-Meter boards.
The Tigers will also benefit from the return of eight All-Ivy team members from the previous year. Aidan Wang and Noah Sech were named to the First Team, alongside Tyler Hong and several others who received Second Team honors.
Looking ahead, Princeton is excited to welcome ten new athletes from the class of 2028, which includes promising talents like Tomaz Chevres and Santiago Gutierrez. The team’s leadership was solidified with the appointment of captains Schott, Feyerick, and Hong for the 2024-25 season.
As the Tigers prepare for upcoming meets, they are not only focused on success within the Ivy League but also on the collective journey toward achieving their personal and team swimming goals. The involvement of swimmers and divers from 12 different countries at the Olympic trials further enriches the team’s diverse and competitive spirit, highlighting an ongoing commitment to excellence.
In summary, the Princeton Tigers swimming and diving team is buoyed by strong performances, promising new talent, and a solid sense of camaraderie as they look forward to a successful season ahead.