By Bob Nuse
Sports Editor
The Princeton High girls’ swim team is still finding its way through the early part of the season.
But early indications are once they do, the Little Tigers will be just fine.
“We’re still trying to figure out what that perfect lineup is,” Princeton coach Carly Misiewicz said after Princeton improved to 2-1 with a 122-48 victory over Steinert on Tuesday. “We have a lot of new freshmen on the team this year, which is good to have. We were missing a couple of them today due to Holiday Classic coming up this weekend. We have a lot of new people in different roles and a lot of freshmen stepping in.”
One of those promising freshmen, Katie DiVenti, won the 200 free and 500 free in the decision over the Spartans. She joined junior Cameron Davis (100 butterfly and 100 backstroke) in winning a pair of individual events in the meet.
“Katie DeVenti is one of the freshmen stepping in for us,” Misiewicz said. “She is someone who can do many different things. Today she did the 200 and the 500. She’s very versatile. I knew she was very good and versatile. She also specializes in distance. She’s finding her way with us nicely and we’re trying to figure out the right places for her to help us the most.”
Abby Walden and Tracey Liu are two other freshmen who have helped to give the Little Tigers some depth in their lineup. They join a veteran like Davis in giving Princeton hope for success once the championship season rolls around next month.
“Cameron Davis is someone who has been a star for us since her freshman year,” Misiewicz said. “Emily Bauser is a sophomore coming up for us in breast and IM. We have some other freshmen who weren’t here today, Abby Walden and Tracy Liu, who will make a difference for us as well come county time.”
Davis has enjoyed being one of the veterans on a team filled with talented younger swimmers.
“It’s a lot of fun all the time,” Davis said of her time with the Little Tigers. “It’s fun having friends from my club team come onto the team here because I know they are going to love it so much, just like I did my freshman year. You get to meet older kids and they are all so nice all the time. It’s nice because I have heard of high school teams from some of my friends with other schools and it is nothing like what we have here.”
Princeton opened the season with a win over Ewing before falling to Hightstown. The win over Steinert helped get them back to their winning ways.
“My expectation was to have fun like I always have,” Davis said. “We want to do well but we’re not one of these teams that is super intense. I do certain events a lot like the 100 backstroke. Personally I just want to do well and keep close to my times.”
Ria Sharma picked up a pair of second-place finishes (50 free and 100 free) in the win over Steinert, while Bauser was second in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.
The Little Tigers were scheduled to be the host to West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Thursday and will be the host to Robbinsville on Tuesday.
