Macy Pine Shines as Columbia Dominates Penn in Ivy League Opener

 The 2023-24 Ivy League swimming and diving season kicked off in style as the Columbia Lions took on the Penn Quakers in a thrilling dual meet at Percy Uris Natatorium in New York. The Columbia men and women showcased their prowess in the pool, securing impressive victories over their Ivy League rivals. One standout performer in this exciting competition was Macy Pine, whose extraordinary diving skills added a touch of excellence to the event.

Columbia Men Triumph: The action started with the men's 200-medley relay, where the quartet of Isaac Beers, Matthew Lou, Brian Lee, and Zion James outperformed their opponents with a remarkable time of 1:30.28. Adam Wu, a standout for the Columbia men, delivered a stellar performance by winning three events - the 200-free (1:41.45), 200-fly (1:49.38), and 500-free (4:32.09).

Stanford Li was another key contributor, claiming victory in the 100-back (49.82) and 200-back (1:47.95). Other notable event winners included Zach Vasser in the 1000-free (9:29.87), Noah Czelusta in the 100-free (45.81), Brian Lee in the 100-fly (48.26), and Beri Yang in the 200-IM (1:51.67).

Macy Pine's Stellar Performance: Diving sensation Macy Pine showcased her prowess in the women's competition. In the 1m dive, Pine secured victory with an impressive score of 291.30. Her outstanding performance extended to the 3m dive, where she earned accolades with a score of 290.03. Head Diving Coach Scott Donie expressed his pride in Pine's achievement, emphasizing that she exceeded the NCAA Zone Qualifying score in both events.

Columbia Women Excel: The women's team continued the momentum, with Aziza Ganihanova and Emily MacDonald each winning multiple events. MacDonald stood out in the sprinting events, claiming victory in the 50-free (23:31) and 100-free (50.79). Ganihanova's versatility shone as she won the 200-back (1:59.91) and the 400-IM (4:22.67).

Other event winners for the women included Georgia Young in the 100-breast (1:05.09) and Anthea Wong in the 100-fly (56.20).

Penn's Strong Showing: The Penn Quakers showcased their talent, particularly in the women's races. Anna Moehn stood out by securing victories in the 200-free (1:50.33) and 500-free (5:00.51). Moehn's performance in the distance races was particularly noteworthy, with Penn dominating the top four spots in both the 500-free and the 1000-free.

The Quakers also notched wins in events like the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard breaststroke, and the 400 free relay. Despite their commendable efforts, they narrowly fell to Columbia in a close contest.

Upcoming Matches: Both the Columbia men and women are gearing up for their upcoming challenges. The women will travel to New Haven for a dual meet against Yale on Friday, November 10, at 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the men will take on Princeton at the same time in New Jersey, looking to continue their winning momentum.

Columbia's triumph over Penn in the Ivy League opener showcased remarkable performances by their swimmers and divers, with Macy Pine's diving skills shining brightly. The team's victories set a promising tone for the 2023-24 season, and the Lions are eager to build on their success in the upcoming matches.

Courtesy Image: Columbia Athletics