M. Swimming Opens Season Against Yale

The Columbia men’s swimming and diving team kicks off its season tonight at home against Yale, a meet that will show to the team exactly what it’s got.

Much is uncertain for the Lions, with the departure of significant senior talent and the addition of fresh swimmers who are untested in Ivy waters. After an offseason of heavy preparation, however, the team is confident.

“Physically, we’ve been preparing for this season just like we would any other,” senior distance swimmer and newly named captain of the Lions Henning Fog said. As Fog described it, the training regimen has consisted of regular pool practice, weight sessions, and “a healthy dose of Phil Jackson-endorsed Zen meditative stretching.”

Most importantly, however, the team has had to adjust to significant changes to the roster. The loss of veteran talent, especially of Tobin White, arguably one of the greatest swimmers in Columbia history, will be felt both on the scoreboard and in the locker room.

“They were great leaders and always presented a strong, united front,” Fog said. “Something somewhat lacking in the class of ’08.”

The Lions have spent a significant part of the offseason trying to reestablish this unity. A major challenge for the team has been adjusting the bevy of new talent to the Ivy League arena. Tonight’s meet against Yale will provide the first test for Columbia and the nine freshmen that joined the team.

“The fall is always the time in which we’re trying to get to know one another—whether welcoming new freshmen or reacquainting ourselves with returning teammates—and work toward a sense of team unity,” Fog said.

With the freshmen comes a sense of both uncertainty and potential. The new class is saturated with talent. From Adam Clayton Powell—one of the fastest sprinters ever recruited by Columbia—to diver Dave Levkoff, the freshmen are expected to have significant breakout seasons. Though they have yet to prove themselves against Ancient Eight competition, Fog is confident that the underclassmen can play a key role in this season’s push toward an Ivy title.

“The freshmen are still something of a mystery to us, having not yet swum in an official meet, but our inter-squad competition last month revealed several potential studs,” Fog said.

Columbia will face a Yale team that boasts one of the most talented swimmers in the Ivy League in junior Alex Righi. The freestyler and backstroker was the lone Bulldog to make the NCAA tournament last season, and brings leadership and bravado to the Yale squad.