The Princeton and Navy men’s swimming and diving teams have a history of very close dual meets. The two teams have traded victories over the years, the score not always properly reflecting the tightness of the meet. It was the Midshipmen who snapped the Tigers’ 92-meet home streak in 2011; until then the Princeton men had never lost in DeNunzio Pool. Today’s meet was characteristically close, but the Tigers got to the wall first in more events than did the Midshipmen, and the final score was 171-129 in the home team’s favor. Full results available here.
The Tigers took it out strong with a 1:28.80 victory in the 200 medley relay behind the quartet of Michael Strand, Teo D’Alessandro, Connor Maher, and Harrison Wagner. Navy’s David Carlson, Mathias Porter, Jonathan Debaugh, and Dain Bomberger out-touched Princeton’s Andrew Helber, Jack Pohlmann, Alexander Lewis, and Julian Mackrel, 1:31.06 to 1:31.38 for second.
Princeton’s Sam Smiddy won the 1000 free in 9:22.34 over Navy’s Alex Nickell (9:26.03) in the first individual event. Smiddy later scored points for the Tigers with a second in the 500 free behind Navy’s Thomas Duvall (4:30.31).
D’Alessandro picked up a pair of wins, taking both the 200 free (1:37.91) and 100 free (45.67). In the 200, second place went to Navy’s Duvall in 1:39.29. Princeton’s David Paulk made up a .68-deficit in the second half of the race to out-touch Navy’s Riley Mita for third, 1:40.74 to 1:40.99. The 100 free featured an exciting battle for second between Princeton’s Mackrel and Navy’s Bomberger. The two turned virtually together at the 50, before Mackrel just squeeked by Bomberger, 46.21 to 46.32, for the extra point. Harrison Wagner (20.45) of Princeton edged Bomberger (20.78) and Mackrel (20.80) in the 50 free.
Maher won the first of his two events when he and Tiger teammate Helber went 1-2 in the 100 back. Maher touched in 49.76, while Helber went 50.19 to edge Navy’s Carlson (50.44). Maher’s second win came in the 200 back, which he negative-split (54.73-54.31) for a 1:49.04 finish. Navy’s Carlson took second in 1:50.47; Princeton’s Corey Okubo was third with 1:51.37.
The Midshipmen ruled the waters in the breaststroke events. Marlin Brutkiewicz was the victor in the 100 distance, getting to the wall in 55.83 in front of Princeton’s Byron Sanborn (56.01) and Pohlmann (56.68). Young Tae Seo out-touched his teammate Brutkiewicz for a 1-2 Navy finish in the 200. Seo went 2:02.86, Brutkiewicz was 2:03.10, and Princeton’s Brett Usinger was 2:04.22 for third, just ahead of teammate Sanborn.
Midshipman Debaugh won a decisive victory in the 200 fly. The only sub-1:50 in the field, he touched in 1:48.75. Princeton’s Okubo was second in 1:50.21. Navy’s Seo overcame teammate Billy Draves in a dramatic finish, getting third, 1:51.67 to 1:51.74.
Seo won the final swimming event for Navy with a 1:51.87 in the 200 IM. Known principally for his short-axis prowess, Seo split the fastest 50 back in the field. Princeton went 2-3-4 with Sanborn (1:52.67), Liam Karas (1:54.39), and Zach Buerger (1:54.64).
Princeton diver Michael Manhard. Photo courtesy of Beverly Schaefer/ Princeton Athletics
Princeton’s Michael Manhard won both diving events. He scored 341.55 points on the 3-meter boards and 312.14 on 1-meter. Teammate Nathan Makarewicz was second in both instances, while Frank Love was the highest-scoring Midshipman, finishing third and fourth in the two events.
Navy won the 400 free relay, with Mita, Ethan King, Duvall, and Bomberger beating out Ben Schafer, Wagner, Mackrel, and Paulk, 3:03.55 to 3:03.78.
Final score:
Princeton University 171 – 129 US Naval Academy
Chest hole