Columbia Rallies From Loss at Princeton to Defeat Yale in Home-Opener

Friday, November 12

Princeton, NJ

5:00 PM

Columbia University

103

197

Princeton

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Columbia Rallies From Loss at Princeton to Defeat Yale in Home-Opener

11/13/2021 5:43:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Results (Yale)Results (Harvard)

Lions reign victorious in home opener.

NEW YORK -- The Columbia men's swim and dive team defeated league-rival Yale 153-147 in the Lions' home-opening meet after falling to Princeton on the road, 197-103. Junior Jonathan Suckow swept the competition with wins in every event dive event of the weekend (1M, 2x 3M, 6M).

"The atmosphere was absolutely electric for our men's return to Uris," noted head diving coach Scott Donie. "The quality of diving was really impressive. When you see athletes rise to the occasion like that it's really special."

Princeton
Columbia was carried by its first-years on Friday as they earned four first place finishes against Princeton. Demir Demirkan took the top spot in the 100 breast (54.89), ahead of classmate Michael Chang in third (56.48), before earning his second victory in the 200 breast (1:58.76).

Kyle Won touched the wall first in the 200 back (1:50.62) followed by fellow freshman Joshua Cho (1:51.10). Sophomore Stanford Li contributed a pair of second place finishes in the 1,000 free (9:18.38) and 500 free (4:32.23) as the Lions lead distance swimmer.

Yale
The divers kicked off Columbia's first home meet in nearly two years with impressive finishes on the 3M. Behind Suckow (441.75), junior Nick Leavell posted a third place finish with a score of 344.63. Leavell later improved for a second place finish off the 1M board (333.83)

Demir, once again, proved to be one of Columbia's most valuable assets with a pair of wins in the 100 (55.03) and 200 breast (2:00.04) after swimming the second leg of Columbia's winning 200 medley relay team. Chang swam for second in the 100 breast (55.55). Additionally, Demir proved his versatility with a first place finish in the 200 IM (1:49.93)

Li took second in both distance events, 1,000 free (9:35.15) and 500 free (4:34.62) before finishing just behind Demir in the 200 IM (1:51.32).

Won added another victory to his portfolio with a 1:48.62 finish in the 200 back and a third place mark in the 100 back (50.32). Senior Jonas Kistorp recorded the top finish in the 100 fly (49.56) and a second place sprint result in the 50 free (20.61).

Columbia will return to action this Friday, Nov. 19 for a 1:00 PM meet at Harvard.

For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @CULionsMSD and @CULionsDiving on Instagram and Twitter, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.