"It's been a really exciting year for swimming and diving," Michael Brown '11 said. "The team is rapidly growing and has made unbelievable progress over the past four years."
Although the team struggled against Harvard University and Cornell University in November meets, the Big Green earned a notable victory prior to winter break with a win against Brown University its first against the team in recent years. The men's and women's teams swept the top three places in the women's 800-meter freestyle race and the men's 3-meter diving competition, and won 15 other events.
The men's team narrowly won, 151-149, while the women's team beat Brown by a solid margin of 12 points, 156-144.
"It was so satisfying to get our first [win] against Brown in like eight years," co-captain Marco Chu '11 said. "It's really great that we're finally experiencing success and seeing a reward for the work we've been putting in."
Standout athletes at the Brown meet, including Nejc Zupan '14 who won the men's 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle as well as the 200-meter individual medley and Danielle Kerr '14 who won the 200-meter freestyle, the 400-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley are expected to continue their strong performances throughout the winter season.
Strong freshman contributions are one reason for the teams' improvement, team members said.
"We recruited a great class," Kamai said. "Not only are they very fast but they also fit in very well with the team. It's great to have them."
Freshmen swimmers and divers added a lot of energy to the team, according to co-captain Virginia Selden '11. The new class in general is very "enthusiastic" in practice and meets, Selden said.
"The '14s are unbelievable both in and out of the pool and the team has really benefited," she said.
Swimmers and divers anticipate a rigorous season schedule in the upcoming months. The women's team and the men's team will compete nine and six times before the end of February, respectively. The season will culminate for both teams with the Ivy League Championships in Cambridge, Mass., during the first week of March.
The diving team has also been instrumental to the Big Green's improvement.
"On the men's diving side, it has been exciting to see what I think is our strongest squad in recent history," Brown said, noting the team's results in the meet against Brown. "After a really great training trip, I am psyched to see what we can do in the rest of the season."
The women's diving team expects similar success this season.
"Everyone is continuing to improve," Madi McClenney '13 said. "The team is heading in a very positive direction."
McClenney attributed much of the team's recent achievements to men's and women's diving coach Chris Hamilton. Hamilton is currently in his twelth season working with Big Green athletes.
The Big Green will next face Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania in a meet this weekend in New Haven, Conn. The teams are optimistic heading into the race, Selden said.
"There has been a lot of visible improvement at practice over the course of the season, so hopefully some of that success and excitement will translate into a great meet for both the men's and women's teams," she said. "We have a chance to do well against both Yale and Penn."
The men's team will regroup for over a week of practice before facing Princeton University on Jan. 23, while the women's team will continue to have a busy weekend, matching up against the University of Vermont on Jan. 16.
