Last year saw a wide variety of outcomes for the Princeton men’s sports teams. Some squads found Ivy League championships while others ended up sitting at the bottom of the standings.
Nevertheless, 2025 presents new chances for the Tigers to earn their stripes, whether that be through redemption arcs, opportunities for underclassmen, or the chance to defend a title.
Without further ado, here is the 2025 men’s fall sports preview.
Football
Princeton football is coming into the fall hungry. After finishing the 2024 season with an uninspiring 3–7 record while going 2–5 in the Ivy League, the Tigers are looking to right the ship. The team had several cornerstone players graduate over the offseason, including running back John Volker ’25 who transferred to the University of Michigan, Tommy Matheson ’25 who transferred to Boston College, and Will Reed ’25 who transferred to West Virginia and then Georgia Tech. All three were seniors last season looking to use their final year of eligibility.
One of the questions for the Tigers this season is who will be under center. Last year, then junior quarterback Blaine Hipa threw for 1665 total yards, along with 10 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. While the touchdown-to-interception ratio was far from ideal, the only other upperclassmen quarterback senior Kai Colón played in just one game last year against Cornell.
On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Marco Scarano was named to Herosports Top 25 Returning Linebacker List. Scarano will anchor the defense alongside standout senior defensive backs Tahj Owens and Nasir Hill. The trio combined for 94 solo tackles last year and will be looking to maintain, or raise, those numbers.
The Tigers look to start their redemption tour on Sept. 20 against the University of San Diego at Powers Field.
Men’s Water Polo
Princeton men’s water polo is coming off yet another fantastic season. In 2024, the Orange and Black dominated the waters, going 23–9 overall, while dominating the NWPC with a 9–1 conference record. The Tigers won the NWPC for the fourth year in a row while also landing six players on all-conference teams. While they ultimately lost to Stanford in the NCAA Tournament, the season was a success by all metrics.
While star goalkeeper Kristóf Kovács will continue to anchor the defense as a junior, and head coach Dustin Litvak is coming off a fourth consecutive Coach of the Year, the team did say goodbye to the great Roko Pozaric. Pozaric was a three-time NWPC Player of the Year and became the all-time leading goal scorer in Princeton water polo history last season with 281 goals. Be sure to keep an eye out to see how the Tigers make up for the loss of a program great.
Princeton got some great preseason reps this week playing one of the best water polo clubs in the world, but their official games don’t start until the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 5.
Cross Country
Princeton men’s cross country is coming into the fall as the reigning Ivy League champions for the fourth year in a row. Despite their continuous Ivy League dominance and 18th overall NCAA ranking, the Tigers placed slightly lower at the NCAA Tournament than expected, finishing 24th. Nevertheless, 2024 treated the Tigers well.
This year, Princeton returns several runners with NCAA Tournament experience, including seniors Myles Hogan, Connor McCormick, and Jackson Shorten and junior Weston Brown. Hogan had five top finishes for the Orange and Black last year and was the top Princeton finisher at NCAAs.
The Tigers’ run for a fifth consecutive Ivy League Championship will start on Sept. 5 with the Jersey Jam, hosted at Princeton.
Men’s Tennis
After finishing second in the Ivy League last season, Princeton is poised to not only strive for the top of the conference but also make noise on the national stage. The Tigers finished the 2024 season in the NCAA regional finals with an impressive 22–9 overall record while winning five of their seven conference tilts. After returning most of their starpower production from last season, Princeton is confident they can do even better.
Junior Paul Inchauspe looks to be the team’s most promising talent after an incredible season. He not only won the 2024 Ivy League Rookie of the Year award, but also earned a spot in the ITA All-American list after knocking off No. 1 seed Sebastian Gorzny of the University of Texas at the NCAA Singles Championships in stunning fashion. However, Inchauspe isn’t the only promising Tiger heading into 2025.
Princeton is all over the ITA’s top 100 rankings in both singles and doubles, with Inchauspe leading the pack at #18, followed by seniors Fnu Nidunjianzan at #35 and Sebastian Sec at #97. As for doubles, two pairs of Tigers make the rankings. Inchauspe and junior Landon Ardila hold the #21 spot while Nidunjianzan and senior Ellis Short come in at #31.
Boasting an overall team ranking of #35 paired with a veteran group, all indications show that Princeton can rise to the challenge and compete at the highest level this upcoming season. The Orange and Black will kickoff their campaign on Friday, Sept. 26 in New Haven at the Yale Invitational.
Men’s Soccer
Coming into the 2025 season as reigning Ivy League champions, the Tigers are hungry to repeat their success and aim for even more. Princeton had a 12–7 overall record while going 5–2 in conference, and after wins against Cornell and Penn found themselves atop the podium in the Ivy League tournament last November. And, although the Tigers lost seven seniors, only one starter from Princeton’s final starting eleven is now graduated.
Leading the pack for Princeton is senior forward Daniel Ittycheria, who was Second Team All-Ivy and scored nine goals last season, including the game-sealing strike in the Ivy League tournament final. Last December, Ittycheria was drafted 40th overall in the MLS SuperDraft to DC United, and he’ll certainly have a chip on his shoulder to round out his Princeton career in style. However, the senior forward is not alone as several key pieces also return, such as senior midfielder Jack Jasinski, senior midfielder Jack Hunt, junior midfielder Liam Beckwith, and senior defender Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch.
The Orange and Black host in-state rivals Rutgers in their season opener on Friday, Sept. 5 in what should be an exciting start to an exhilarating season.
Golf
Princeton golf is coming off of an Ivy League championship winning season in 2024 and is now ready to transition its success into its non-conference matchups. Although the Tigers finished atop the conference, they finished below the top five in all but three of their regular season invitationals. However, having only graduated two seniors, Princeton should have everything it takes to make noise on the national stage.
The Orange and Black return all five of their top performers from the Ivy League Tournament last year, including senior Riccardo Fantinelli, junior Charlie Palmer, junior Tommy Frist, sophomore Reed Greyserman, and sophomore Eric Yun. In other words, Princeton returns with a lot of firepower, and should be a challenge for any team they face in their upcoming campaign.
The Tigers will open an exciting 2025 season on Friday, Sept. 5 with the Rod Myers Invitational at Duke University.
Doug Schwartz is an associate Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’
Lucas Nor is a Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Amid budget cuts, University slashes hours across most library branches
Hannah GabelnickPrinceton University Library has reduced hours at several branches this fall amid budget cuts, slashing late-night and weekend access and cutting student worker shifts.
Princeton University Library has reduced hours at several branches this fall amid budget cuts, slashing late-night and weekend access and cutting student worker shifts.
Preview and Staff Picks: Men’s soccer vs. Rutgers
Harrison Blank, Joseph Uglialoro, and Alex Beverton-SmithIn their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.
In their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.
University student robbed outside of Bloomberg Hall
Luke GrippoOn Wednesday evening, a Princeton student reported being the victim of a robbery that occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
On Wednesday evening, a Princeton student reported being the victim of a robbery that occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.