Lions prep for weekend foes Princeton, Big Green

Tonight, the men’s swimming and diving team launches into its final weekend of dual meet competition with meets against Princeton and Dartmouth.

The weekend begins today at 7 p.m. in Princeton, where the Lions (4-4, 1-4 Ivy) will try to avenge last year’s 178-119 loss at the hands of the undefeated Tigers.

So far this season, Princeton has taken on six Ivy League foes and defeated them all by over 50 points. A victory over Columbia would lock in the Tigers’ spot atop the Ancient Eight, while a loss would tie them with the Crimson’s record heading into the Ivy Championships.

The Light Blue will have its work cut out tomorrow against the Tigers. The last time the two teams met, Princeton showed depth all around the pool with victories in the diving events and distance and mid-distance races.

The Lions were, however, superior in the relays as well as the sprinting events, as now-junior Adam Powell won both the 50 and 100 free.

“Princeton is undefeated this year and should finish up that way,” said head coach Jim Bolster . However, he also noted, “We will use the meet as an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with their pool, which is the site of our Ivy League Championship meet.”

On the other end of the scale is Columbia’s final dual-meet opponent of the season, Dartmouth (3-7, 0-5 Ivy), which has yet to record a conference win. Dartmouth has faced all the other teams in the Ancient Eight to no avail, but has run up the score in a few nonconference matchups. The Big Green’s most recent victory was a 276-52 decision against Maine.

The last time the Light Blue and the Big Green faced off, the Lions came out on top 182-117. Dartmouth’s top swimmers of the day were then-freshman Michael Ahern in the 100 and 200 backstroke and then-junior Scott Sorensen in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Columbia was otherwise strong in the distance races, as well as the sprinting and breaststroke events.

“The meet versus Dartmouth will have special significance in that it will be the final dual meet in the careers of our graduating seniors, and we will want them to finish up on a high note,” Bolster said. “I am confident that if we swim the way we have all year, we will be able to put the right swimmers in the right events to capture the win.”

Before they face Dartmouth, the Lions will have to get through tonight’s meet against powerhouse Princeton at 7 p.m. on the road. Tomorrow’s meet is set to begin at 3 p.m. in Uris Pool.