Light Blue to face off against strong Navy swimming team

This afternoon, Columbia’s men’s swimming and diving team will compete in its last nonconference dual meet of the season. The Lions, who are 4-4 (1-4 Ivy) on the season, are taking on Navy in Annapolis, Md. in a meet that could either lift them above or force them below a .500 record.

Columbia is currently on a two-meet losing streak after dropping matches to Ivy foes Cornell and Brown, although the Light Blue’s last three nonconference meets have been very successful. Army and Fordham posted significant scores to challenge the Lions, while Bucknell fell decisively, 158-83, when the teams met three weeks ago.

Navy, however, has had an overwhelmingly successful season so far. Aside from dropping a meet last weekend to Virginia, the Midshipmen are otherwise undefeated, taking down much of the Ivy League as well as their own conference competitors. In terms of the Ancient Eight, Navy has already beaten Brown, Dartmouth, and most recently Yale.

Last time the two teams met, the Midshipmen triumphed 162-133. Navy took an early lead, stayed ahead of the score, and eventually competed mostly as exhibition entrants. If the Lions hope to have a better showing today, they’ll have to fight the Midshipmen early on and avoid relinquishing excessive points, forcing Navy to remain competitive.

Today’s meet is made more difficult by the fact that Navy has a plethora of swimmers who threaten to best the Lions. Head coach Jim Bolster acknowledges one in particular: senior Adam Meyer, who is a force between the lanes in the 200 butterfly, breaststroke, and individual medley.

“I am not sure there is too much we can do to limit his [Meyer’s] impact, but if we can win our share of the events that he does not swim, we could make the meet interesting,” Bolster said.

Junior Aaron Aiken and senior Andrew Hertzner—in the freestyle sprinting and backstroke events, respectively—could both potentially snatch away much-needed points from Columbia.

This afternoon’s meet will be spiced up a little due to the unusual size of the Midshipmen’s pool.

“The meet against Navy will be competed in a 25-meter pool. Our pool and all of the other venues that we compete in are 25-yard pools,” Bolster said. “But we have won at this pool before, and really, the extra inches do not decide the meet. The best swimmers will prevail in each race, and I am looking forward to seeing how we respond to the challenge of being on the road, swimming in an unfamiliar pool, and competing at an unfamiliar distance.”

The Lions and Midshipmen dive in this afternoon at 2 p.m. in Annapolis, Md.