The last time the Penn men’s swimming team boasted a winning record, some of it’s freshmen had not yet been born.
But given the team’s rebirth this season, the Quakers expect results at the Ivy Championships.
The meet, which starts today at DeNunzio Pool in Princeton, N.J., is the culmination of what has been a successful season for the Quakers (6-3, 4-3 Ivy). They finished above .500 in league competition for the first time since 1991.
“If we swim the way we’re capable of, we can do some great things,” coach Mike Schnur said.
However, 1991 is also the last time that Princeton lost in its home pool. The No. 25 Tigers (7-0, 7-0 Ivy) are the returning champions and heavy favorites to win again this year.
Princeton’s toughest opponent should be Harvard (7-2, 6-1 Ivy), who was runner-up last season. Princeton and Harvard have historically dominated the Ivy League in swimming, combining to win the last 37 championships.
In order to contend with Harvard and Princeton, senior captain James Fee, sophomore Brendan McHugh and freshman Stephen Carroll — all seeded in the top five in multiple events — will have to meet their lofty expectations.
Even though the Red and Blue have not finished in the top five in the Ivy League Championships since 2003, the Quakers believe that their goal of third place in the Ivy League is still attainable.
“We might even be able to do better than that,” senior captain James Fee said.
What is clear, is that anything can happen given the parity in rest of the Ivy League this season. Penn beat Brown, Columbia and Yale but lost to Cornell, all by 30 points or fewer.
“We can get third; we can get seventh,” Schnur said. The Ivy League has never been this competitive.”
