Columbia women outswim Princeton for first time

Going into last Friday’s meet against Princeton, the Columbia women’s swimming and diving team was well aware that it was up against the Goliath of Ivy League swimming. The Tigers, last year’s Ivy League champions, had groomed a meticulous record that included a 43-meet win streak dating back to 2006-2007 that ended two weekends ago against Harvard.

The teams kicked off the meet, and the 200-yard medley relay A team of junior Katie Meili and freshmen Mikaila Gaffey, Lisa Zhang, and Stella Zhao powered to a first-place finish only to be disqualified later, allowing Princeton to take first- and second-place points in the event.

“But we were the underdogs,” said head coach Diana Caskey. “So we said, ‘Whatever, let’s fight back.’”

Stowing the less-than-encouraging start in the backs of their minds, the Lions fought back, eventually picking up an incredible win that marked the first time in its history that Princeton had been beaten on its home turf at DeNunzio Pool in a dual meet.

Meili led the charge, blazing to first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley. Meanwhile, freshman teammates Chacha Bugatti and Salena Huang dominated the freestyle events. Bugatti took first in the 500 and 1,000, while Huang won the 200 and touched second in the 100 and 500.

The Lions would ultimately take the top spot in 10 of the 13 individual events. Gaffey, sophomore Laney Kluge, and junior Kristina Parsons all contributed wins. Co-captain senior Dorothy Baker and junior Caroline Lukins also helped to fuel the 173-127 victory.

“This meet has been a goal of ours all season ... To be able to go into anyone’s home territory and beat them is huge, but Princeton is perennially the best team in the League,” Caskey said of the victory over her alma mater. With the win, Caskey was able to beat her old swimming coach for the first time in the Columbia swimming coach’s career.

“It felt awesome. This team has worked so hard.”

The next day, the team jumped back into the pool, this time at home, and claimed an easy victory over Dartmouth in its final dual meet of the season. The win boosted the Lions’ conference record to 6-1, which was good enough to earn them second place behind Harvard in conference dual-meet standings.

The team will travel to Cambridge on Feb. 23 for the invitational-style Ivy League Championships. The Lions finished in third place last year behind swimming powerhouses Princeton and Harvard.

“We’re excited for Ivies,” Bugatti said. “It’s only up from here.”