Previewing the Championships
The Women’s Swimming Championships return to Princeton’s DeNunzio Pool, the host of many fast times in recent championship events. Some of the NCAA’s top talent will be on display in Princeton, N.J. to see if anyone can surprise the Lady Tigers in their own pool.
It’s not as though the Princeton women need “home field advantage”, as they have been very comfortable atop the victory stand, having won seven of the last eight championships, and currently hold the trophy. The Tigers return two strong juniors in Justina DiFazio, who won the 100 and 200 Freestyle competitions in 2007 and took second in the 50 Freestyle, and Katie Giarra, the defending champion in both diving events. A sophomore contingent — led by Courtney Kilkuts (defending champion, 200 IM) and Alicia Aemisegger — also returns. Aemisegger is the 3-time Individual champion and Ivy record holder in the 1000 Freestyle, and her swims “have been some of the fastest in the world” according to coach Susan Teeter.
Conventional wisdom dictates that it will take a remarkable team effort to unseat the Tigers, but there is a lot of school pride on the line. “While Princeton is undefeated,” writes Jesup Szatkowski of Dartmouth, “the rest of the League appears to be very competitive.”Also, having the event at DeNunzio Pool is not always a slam dunk for the home team. Harvard has enjoyed great success and played the role of spoiler in this pool before — in 2005 — when it won the team title.
Coach Steph Wreide-Morawski, despite admitting that “Princeton is favored to win,” is nonetheless “excited to see the results”. The Crimson are 6-1 on the year and pose the most viable threat to claim the trophy. Alexandra Clarke will be a key cog in the championship challenge as she looks to defend her 1650 Free title. A duel with Aemisegger in the 1000 will also be one of the premier events of this year’s program. Senior Lindsay Hart, the defending champion in the 200 Backstroke, will also be looked on to pace the Crimson and is expected to perform well in multiple events. Finally, look for a strong relays performance to score vital points for Harvard again this year.
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