Men's swimming downs opponents

DeNunzio Pool was abuzz this weekend as the men's swimming and diving team hosted its final home dual meets of the 2003-2004 season against Kenyon College on Friday evening and the US Naval Academy on Saturday afternoon, sending both visiting teams home winless.

Princeton towered over the Kenyon Lords with a 157-107 win. Kenyon was expected to put up a good fight, and the Tigers knew of Kenyon's reputation in Division III swimming and diving. However, Kenyon's 24 consecutive NCAA Division III championships and respectable 7-3 dual meet season record did not faze the determined Princeton swimmers.

Princeton claimed a good ten of the seventeen total events of the day, including double wins for both senior Steve Fleming and sophomore Will Reinhardt. Fleming stole the 100 yard backstroke and the 200 yard backstroke, while Reinhardt won the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle.

Senior Michael Shyong, junior Nick Lee and senior Michael Sullivan represented the Princeton divers, winning the top three spots in both the one meter diving and three meter diving events.

On Saturday afternoon, Princeton faced off against Navy (8-7 in dual meets) at DeNunzio. The Midshipmen sank under the weight of the unstoppable Tigers as Princeton checked off its second victory of the weekend, taking Navy down 170-122.

Ripping through the first half of the meet, Princeton led right from the start, taking first and second place in the opening 200 yard medley relay and never slowing in their triumph over Navy.

The Tigers dominated the meet with first place finishes in eleven of the sixteen total events, with victories spread across an impressive group of ten different swimmers.

'Senior Day'

At the half time break, amidst the Tigers' ambush over Navy, there was a ceremony honoring the seniors at their last dual meet in Princeton's home pool. Giving mention to every senior's dedication to the swimming program at Princeton, a short speech was delivered about each of the seniors by one of their underclass friends. Gifts from the coaches followed, and through this "Senior Day" tradition the team members of the Class of 2004 said goodbye to DeNunzio Pool.

It may have been a bit heartbreaking for the Princeton seniors as they swam their final dual races, but the '04 Tigers were not the only ones with heartache on Saturday. The Navy swimmers left DeNunzio Pool with no more than three first place finishes in swimming events. But this weekend's meets could only strengthen the confidence of the Tigers for their upcoming races.

With a near perfect season thus far, it looks as though the 2003-2004 Princeton swimmers and divers could go all the way. Ringing in first place finishes and top speed swims from a plethora of swimmers as shown in the Navy meet, as well as boasting a determined and promising freshman class, a killer group of experienced returners and a first class coaching staff, Princeton just might possess the perfect swim team.

Now touting an overall dual meet record of 8-1, the Tigers are untouchable in Ivy League swimming and diving.

On the road again for the final dual meet of their season, Princeton will meet Army at West Point, NY this Friday.

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Army is now only 5-7 in dual meets and has already fallen to each Ivy League team they have faced, as well as taken a loss to Navy earlier this season. Army's less than stellar record bodes well for another Princeton victory as well as one last successful dual meet situation before the ESIL championships come to DeNunzio in March.