Men’s swimming split weekend, Women’s sweep Cornell and Penn

The men’s and women’s swimming team opened the Ivy League season with a tri-meet this Friday and Saturday against old rivals Cornell and Penn. The men’s squad split the Ivy League opener, beating Cornell 191-109, but losing to Penn 108-192. The women’s squad swept both their opponents with an impressive showing and now hold a 2-0 record in the Ivy League.

Despite a well-balanced showing by the men’s squad, the Tigers fell to the Quakers. Princeton’s only individual win came from junior Corey Okubo in the 200 backstroke. The two-time NCAA qualifier earned first with a time of 1:49.84.

In addition, the Tigers also boasted multiple second place finishes. Indeed, out of the 12 individual swimming events, the Princeton squad claimed the second spot in half of them. Other notable performances came from sophomore Cole Buese, who claimed the runner-up spot twice this weekend.

While this was not the result they were hoping for, the team showed its depth as many swimmers and divers grabbed crucial points for the team by placing third, fourth, or fifth.

The Tigers are certainly feeling the gap left behind from last year. The Princeton team graduated ten seniors after the 2015-16 season. The Class of 2020 has helped restore some of the team’s manpower, but it will need to continually improve as it vies for another Ivy League title.

The women’s squad managed to repeat last year’s success by once again sweeping Big Red and the Quakers. The Tigers started the meet on the right foot with strong performances from the diving board. Senior Yasmeen Almog picked up first place in the one-meter board with 261.65 points

The Orange and Black continued their strong showing with an equally impressive performance in the 200 medley relay, edging out Penn by under two-tenths of a second. This remarkable start would be indicative of the rest of the meet, as the Tigers brought him many individual wins to secure victory over their Ivy rivals.

Other notable performances came from freshman Gianna Garcia who placed first in the 100 back with a time of 55.86. This was quickly followed by another first place finish -- this time from sophomore Joanna Curry. Overall, the Tigers showed they were a force to be reckoned with. Out of the 16 events, Princeton claimed either first or second in 15 of them.

The Tigers will be looking to reclaim the Ivy League throne this year. After finishing third behind Harvard and Yale last season, the Princeton squad will be look to reassert themselves at the top of the Ivy table. This strong showing is likely the first of many as the Tigers continue their campaign.

Both the men’s and women’s squad will be off for Thanksgiving. Their next meet will be the Brown Invitational in Providence, giving both teams some time to rest and recuperate. The Tigers' next race will be Dec. 3.