February 11, 2004: Sports

Women’s swimming dives into the record books
Winning streak ends at 47; Tigers focus on a fifth Ivy title

Men’s squash reloads
New lineup has big shoes to fill

sports SHORTS

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Women’s swimming dives into the record books
Winning streak ends at 47; Tigers focus on a fifth Ivy title

After women’s swimming and diving beat Harvard and Yale at last season’s H-Y-P meet, coach Susan Teeter let her team in on a secret. The Tigers were on the verge of making history. If they could win their final two meets and three more in 2003—04, they would break a school record for the longest winning streak in any sport.

It took a little time for the idea to sink in, Teeter says, but by the time the Tigers opened the season in November, the significance was clear. The team swept three meets in two days to run their streak to 44, one better than the previous mark set by men’s tennis from 1975 to 1980. When the streak finally ended at 47 with a loss to Pittsburgh January 5, all the Tigers could think of was getting back into the pool. “They’re ready to win again,” Teeter says.

How impressive is a 47-meet winning streak? In a sport where hundredths of a second can mean the difference between winning and losing, the Tigers managed to stay unbeaten for five and a half seasons. Their last loss before Pittsburgh came in 1998, when Princeton’s men’s basketball team was ranked among the top 10 teams in the country, George W. Bush was a first-term governor in Texas, and Monica Lewinsky was just becoming a household name.

“It’s definitely a record that all of them, going all the way back to ’97—’98, will value having been a part of for many years to come,” Teeter says. “I truly believe, in my heart of hearts, that when they come back for their 50th reunions, this record will still be standing.”

This year’s team has legitimate stars, such as 2003 N.C.A.A. qualifiers Sarah Fraumann ’04 and Stephanie Hsiao ’05, and a supporting cast that contributed to three of the Tigers’ four consecutive Ivy League titles. But the program’s success starts with Teeter, a 20-year veteran and two-time U.S. Olympic team assistant. She came to Princeton as a first-time head coach, believing that if she could win without scholarships, the big-time schools would take notice. They did, but when the job offers came, Teeter turned them down. “I fell in love with what Princeton represented, academically and athletically,” Teeter says. “I didn’t want to leave.”

Instead, she concentrated on building the Princeton program, attracting student-athletes who shared her goals. Her frank approach to recruiting weeds out selfishness. “If you can’t be a good person and give on a higher level as a teammate,” she tells prospective swimmers, “you’re probably not going to fit into our style of coaching.” As Hsiao recalls, when she visited Princeton as a high schooler, she didn’t feel as if she were being recruited. It was more of an introduction, followed by an opportunity to join. “Everyone is here because they want to be here,” she says.

With 42 women, Princeton has the biggest squad in the Ivy League, almost twice as large as some teams. Teeter does not make cuts, provided that everyone can keep pace with a rigorous training routine that includes double sessions four times a week. For morning practice, the swimmers roll out of bed and make the chilly walk to DeNunzio Pool to be in the water by 6:30 a.m. The second session starts at 4 p.m., after classes. Despite the schedule, all 11 swimmers from the Class of 2004 have stuck with the sport for four years. “We get a lot of respect [from other students],” says Katie Kopil ’04. “People are astonished by the amount of hours we put in, and when those hours are.”

More players on the roster means more players on the bench, or off the bus when the Tigers travel. But that doesn’t bother captain Stefanie Lawlor ’04, a backup butterfly swimmer who calls the team her “family on campus.” She often travels to meets with other reserves to cheer on her teammates from the bleachers. “We have some people who are great leaders who aren’t scoring a point,” Teeter says. “I think that’s the beauty of the Princeton program.”

By B.T.

Men’s squash reloads
New lineup has big shoes to fill

In the summer of 1998, Princeton hosted the World Junior Championships of squash, bringing more than 150 of the top international young players to campus. For coach Bob Callahan ’77, the tournament’s director, extensive planning for the event proved more than worthwhile. Five players from the field ended up playing for the Princeton men’s team, including four in the Class of 2003, one of the most successful groups of Tiger players ever. But after winning three Ivy League titles in the last four years, Callahan faces the unenviable task of replacing his departed standouts. “We’ve got to think about doing another tournament,” he jokes.

Thanks in part to Callahan’s continued international recruiting, a return to the top might not be too far away for the Tigers. Playing without five of last year’s top six players, they dominated their first four opponents in preparation for a string of formidable tests against Penn, Yale, Harvard, and Trinity. Princeton’s freshmen tallied a 21—0 record early in the season, with notable contributions from Vincent Yu ’07, one of Hong Kong’s top juniors, and Michael Gilman ’07, a former U.S. junior national team player.

Princeton can count on getting points at the top of the lineup, with defending national champion Yasser El Halaby ’06 returning to the number-one spot. Last year, 2001 national champion David Yik ’03 and 2003 national finalist Will Evans ’03 kept El Halaby sharp in practice matches, but Callahan had to be more creative this season. He has challenged his star with 30- to 45-minute “pressure sessions” to simulate the exhaustion of long matches, and El Halaby occasionally plays against two teammates at once to test himself. “He certainly adds a lot of excitement to the team,” Callahan says. “It’s fun to see squash played at that level.”

Even with the nation’s top player in the lineup, opponents are anxious to face the young Tigers, a lesson learned early in the season at Cornell. The Big Red had defeated Penn the day before hosting Princeton and came into the match brimming with confidence. Princeton swept the match, 9—0, but the experience gave the team an early reminder to keep its guard up. “All of these schools think this is their year to beat Princeton,” Callahan says.

By B.T.

sports SHORTS

Goalie Megan Van Beusekom ’04 stopped 35 shots in wins over Colgate and Cornell January 9 and 10 as WOMEN’S HOCKEY improved to 11—5. Van Beusekom, who ranks second in the E.C.A.C. with a 1.87 goals-against average, has been in net for eight of the Tigers’ victories.

MEN’S HOCKEY played overtime games on back-to-back nights, tying St. Lawrence 5—5 January 9 and losing to Clarkson 5–4 January 10. Matt Maglione ’04 and Dustin Sproat ’06 scored goals in both contests.

Andre Logan ’05’s team-high 16 points weren’t enough to propel MEN’S BASKETBALL past Minnesota January 10. The Tigers’ 57—53 loss was their fifth by four points or fewer. Logan has scored in double figures four times since returning from injuries in December.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL opened its Ivy season with a 65—54 loss at Penn January 9. Casey Lockwood ’07 scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who led in the second half before being outscored 20—6 in the final eight minutes.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK started the new year with wins over Rutgers and St. John’s January 10. The Tigers won five events and dominated the one-mile run, capturing the first four places. MEN’S INDOOR TRACK won its January 10 dual meet against Navy, 93—71, behind strong throwing performances by Paul Lyons ’05 and Josh McCaughey ’04.

MEN’S and WOMEN’S FENCING defeated Stevens and the New Jersey Institute of Technology in a three-way match January 10.

On February 20, the MEN’S SQUASH team will compete inside a portable, transparent squash court at New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. The four-team college tournament, on display for commuting spectators, is a prelude to the Professional Squash Association’s Tournament of Champions.

By B.T.