Men's Swimming: Class of 2012 finalizes 4th straight title

Expectations were high for the men’s swimming and diving team coming into the Ivy League Championship weekend, especially for the seniors. The swimmers in the Class of 2012 had never lost an Ivy Championship in their collegiate careers. The Tigers were ready to fight to keep the streak going.

They succeeded. It marks the first time since 1992 that a Princeton class has won all four championship titles.

“I was amazed by the closeness, strength and determination shown by our team throughout the entire meet,” senior tri-captain Jon Christensen said. “It's natural to have ups and downs in any competition, but everyone held it together through to the very end.”

Senior tri-captain Colin Cordes agreed that it took teamwork and momentum to get through the tough three-day competition.

“It took a team effort to win, and in each session of the meet, we continued to build off our successes from the previous day,” Cordes said.

From beginning to end, Princeton dominated the weekend at DeNunzio Pool. An opening win in the 200-yard freestyle relay by freshman Harrison Wagner, senior Matt LaMonaca, senior tri-captain Mike Monovoukas and Cordes set the pace for the weekend and was followed by sophomore Paul Nolle earning an individual title in the 500-yard free. Also on the first day of competition, Christensen won the 200-yard individual medley.

The quartet of junior Kaspar Raigla, Christensen, freshman Michael Strand and Cordes finished out the day with a win in the 400-yard medley relay.

Raigla, Christensen, Strand and Wagner worked together for the 200-yard medley relay, taking first place to open the second day and breaking a 22-year-old Ivy record.

“The record-breaking 200 medley relay spells the meet out perfectly," Monovoukas said. "The old Princeton record was set as an American record 20 years ago by the last team to win four consecutive championships.”

Nolle then earned his second championship in the 1000-yard free, beating the nearest competitor by 10 seconds. Later, the Tigers proved their depth, taking three of the top five spots in the 200-yard free, with junior Will Lawley in second, Cordes in third and freshman Michael Hauss in fifth.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Christensen had a record-breaking performance, swimming for first place and breaking an Ivy League and DeNunzio Pool record, clocking in at 52.86 seconds. Christensen followed up this outstanding performance with a win in the 800-yard free relay with teammates Lawley, Hauss and Cordes. By the end of the second day, the Tigers led the league with 1049.5 points, 105 points ahead of Harvard in second place.

Nolle opened the last day of competition with another first-place finish in the 1650-yard free, the mile competition. Nolle finished 17 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Cordes then had his third straight individual title in the 200-yard backstroke denied, as he came in second to newcomer Jeremie DeZwirek of Columbia. Christensen followed with his sixth first-place finish of the weekend in the 200-yard breaststroke.

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Junior diver Stevie Vines led the Tiger divers in the championships, earning first place in the three-meter dive. Vines’ 400.60 points is a new Ivy League and DeNunzio record.

“I’m just honored to be able to perform in front of my teammates, family and friends, my girlfriend and all of the wonderful alums that support us every year,” Vines said. “It’s a special family, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a member of [the swimming and diving team].”

Sophomore Mark O’Connell took fourth place, and junior Chris Kelly finished in eighth.

The Tigers finished out the weekend with 1523.5 points, with Harvard coming in second at 1446 points. Overall, Christensen picked up three individual titles this weekend, giving him eight Ivy titles over his career, and Nolle earned first place in every race he swam, earning a total of 96 points for the team. Both swimmers earned the high-point swimmer honors, and Vines was awarded the high-point diver award.

“Never had I come out of a competition completely satisfied like this before, so I'm very pleased for that to be the case for my final Ivy League meet,” Christensen said.

Monovoukas shared Christensen’s pride in leaving his last Ivy season with such a strong showing by the team.

“It was a great experience as a senior winning at DeNunzio Pool in front of the family, friends and alumni that support the past, present and future of Princeton swimming,” he said.