Women's Swimming and Diving: Princeton swims to third place

Junior All-American Alicia Aemisegger posted an NCAA A-cut and a pool record in the 400-yard individual medley (IM). Aemisegger also posted B-cut, pool and University record times in the 200-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle.

Along with Aemisegger, sophomore Megan Waters broke a University record in the 50-yard free, posting a time of 22.83 seconds, the fastest Princeton time since 2003. Waters also had top performances in the 100 free, in which she finished second, and the 100-yard backstroke, in which she had a top time in the B final.

Annually, the Big Al Open sees some of the fastest in-season swimming. This year especially, the Gators posted many NCAA A- and B-cuts and lowered numerous pool records.

“This was a great test to have top-25 ranked teams to come to our pool, and I think our women have really stepped it up and risen to the challenge of racing against these top athletes,” assistant coach Phil Spiniello said. “I think we’re right where we need to be, and I think we’ve proved that we can hang in there with the best teams.”

Junior Courtney Kilkuts, a three-time Ivy League champion, posted some top times over the weekend as well. Kilkuts won the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.30, just good enough for an NCAA B-cut. Kilkuts also was the top finisher for the Tigers in the 200-yard breaststroke, and her time of 2:15.88 was the second-fastest time of the meet and just shy of a B-cut.

The Tigers posted numerous top times in the relays, coming close to University records in the 200-free, 200-medley and 400-free relays. The 800-free relay team posted an NCAA B-cut and is in line to match last year’s top-16 performance at the NCAA Championships.

“The biggest accomplishment for us [at] this meet has been our mentality to just get up and race and [put] in some solid swims without being rested or shaved,” Spiniello said. “I’m very proud of my women for hanging in there, and across the board the whole team has really stepped it up.”

The divers also rose to the challenge of facing top-25 competition, as senior Katie Giarra posted a fourth-place finish in the three-meter event and a second-place finish in the one-meter event.

The Tigers will now enter a tough December of training, returning early from winter break to prepare for the rest of the season. They will face Dartmouth on Jan. 25 as they enter the final weeks of competition before the Ivy League Championships.