Unranked Columbia Takes Down No. 10 Princeton Men’s Swimming and Diving

Photo Courtesy: Columbia University Athletics/Gene Boyars

NEW YORK – After finding themselves in the top 10 in this week’s CSCAA rankings, the Princeton men’s swimming and diving team was the odds-on favorite to win tonight’s dual meet against Ivy League rival – and unranked team – Columbia. But the Lions were not planning to lose at home. Columbia won 11 of 16 events to beat the Tigers, 168-132. It was a shocking loss for Princeton less than one week after the tri-meet with Harvard and Yale in which they put up the quality times that put them in the top 10 national rankings, and less than four hours after Princeton’s women’s team beat Columbia by two points.

In a major reversal of the women’s meet, Columbia’s men’s team won the majority of the events and won the meet. Princeton’s times in today’s meet showed that they did not expect to need to be at top racing form to beat Columbia. Nearly every swim was slower than what Princeton posted last week in the tri-meet with Yale and Harvard.

Though Columbia started out tough by finishing 1-2 in the 3-meter diving event and winning the 200 medley relay with a 1:29.59 to Princeton’s 1:29.87, Princeton responded quickly with a 1-2 finish in the 400 IM. Teo D’Alessandro won with a 3:54.80 ahead of teammate Sam Smiddy and his 3:56.86.

Columbia’s Terry Li won the 200 free with a 1:40.95, which was followed by Princeton victories in the next two events that whittled away at Columbia’s lead slightly. Connor Maher posted a 50.57 to win the 100 back, while Byron Sanborn won the 100 breast with a 56.85.

David Jakl of Columbia took down Princeton’s star freshman Corey Okubo in the 200 fly, 1:47.61 to 1:48.33, which likely boosted Columbia’s drive. Alex Ngan posted a sprint freestyle double for Columbia, winning the 50 free with a 20.46 and the 100 free in 44.85.

The next four events would go to Columbia, and two of them featured 1-2 finishes. In the 200 back, Columbia’s Kevin Quinn blasted a 26.45 in the final 50 yards to take over the lead and win with a 1:48.12. His teammate, Michal Zyla, led from the start but faded in the finish. He held on to second place with a 1:49.21, holding off Okubo and his 1:49.24 for third. The 100 fly featured a 1-2-3 finish for Columbia, led by a 48.08 by David Jakl. Quinn was second with a 49.76 and Terry Li picked up crucial third-place points with a 49.80.

Joseph Lozano had a tight battle on his hands with Sanborn in the 200 breast. Sanborn led at 100 yards, but Lozano took over the lead at the 150 and got the win with a 2:04.48 to Sanborn’s 2:04.67. Columbia’s Jae Park won the other race in Columbia’s four-event victory run, taking the 500 free with a 4:31.32.

By the time the second-to-last event, the 200 IM, rolled around, the meet was pretty much decided, and Columbia was celebrating the fact that they would finish the season undefeated. Princeton did fight back with a 1-2 finish in the 200 IM, as Liam Karas posted a 1:51.76 and Marco Bove was second with a 1:52.84.

The 200 free relay was just for bragging rights, and Columbia put the cherry on top of a memorable meet by beating Princeton by three hundredths of a second, 1:21.39 to 1:21.42.

Princeton men at Columbia dual meet – Results

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Laura Kessinger Good
9 years ago

Way to go Alex Ngan!!!! Hart High Alum all the way!!!

Tony Corbisiero
9 years ago

Roar Lions Roar!!!!

Fish
Fish
9 years ago

Love it!! Happy Mardi Gras!

LINYphan
LINYphan
9 years ago

Congrats to Coach Bolster and the Lions. Looks like Princeton trained hard all week after HYP and have their sights set on Ivies. Not taking anything away from the Columbia win, however. Just be sure not to be lulled into thinking that Coach Orr’s team is at all vulnerable. Still have to consider Princeton as the team to beat at Ivy Champs.

Michael Balsamo
9 years ago

Awesome when the underdog comes through!

Andrew Shaar
9 years ago

Hey we beat Columbia twice.

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