Males’s Swimming and Diving Stays Sizzling with Convincing Victory over Cornell

NEW YORK — The Columbia males’s swimming and diving workforce earned a decisive Ivy League victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Cornell, 203-97, at Percy Uris Natatorium. The win marked Columbia’s second consecutive Ivy League victory to open the 2026 calendar and its third convention win of the season.

 

“The Lions swam well in earning a good win over Cornell today,” Head Coach Jim Bolster mentioned. “Right from the start we attacked our swims in an effort to keep the Big Red from gaining any momentum and it worked as we won the first four events and never looked back.”

Columbia set the tone instantly, successful the opening 200 medley relay because the A workforce of Isaac Beers, Beri Yang, Brian Lee, and Zion James touched first in a pool document time of 1:26.28.

The Lions adopted that efficiency with a dominant displaying within the distance occasions, led by Zach Vasser’s victory within the 1000 freestyle (9:03.82), with Stephen Zhukov ending second and Bryce Key including a fourth-place consequence to safe main early factors.

The Lions managed the freestyle occasions all through the afternoon. Gian Santos captured wins in each the 200 freestyle (1:36.37) and the five hundred freestyle (4:28.36), whereas Adam Wu added a second-place end within the 200 free. In the sprints, James delivered a pair of victories, touching first within the 50 freestyle (19.56) and the 100 freestyle (43.59).

Columbia additionally posted robust ends in the stroke occasions. Beers received the 100 backstroke with a brand new pool document of 46.81, whereas Wu claimed first within the 200 butterfly (1:46.91). Jerry Yan added one other win for the Lions within the 100 butterfly (47.98). In the breaststroke occasions, Joshua Corn captured the 200 breaststroke title (1:56.59) and completed second within the 100 breast, with Yang contributing extra factors.

The Lions have been dominant within the particular person medley occasions, as Santos received the 200 IM (1:49.23), adopted carefully by Ali Elmasry in second. Elmasry additionally added factors with a runner-up end within the occasion, persevering with Columbia’s depth throughout disciplines.

Columbia closed the meet in emphatic style, successful the 400 freestyle relay. The A relay of Wu, Samuel Eckert, Derek Hitchens, and James touched first in 2:55.44 to seal the Ivy League victory.

 

On the boards, Joseph Nicol delivered a standout efficiency, successful each the 3-meter dive (319.13) and the 1-meter dive (318.68). Will Cooley and Derek Hong added scoring finishes in every occasion to additional lengthen Columbia’s benefit.

“Joe was struggling a little in the first event and came back to win it,” Head Diving Coach Scott Donie mentioned. “Really clutch when it counted. Everyone is lifting their game and we are really looking forward to our senior meet next weekend.”

 

Full outcomes from the meet, together with all the Lions’ high performers and occasions, might be discovered HERE.

Columbia returns to Uris Natatorium on Saturday, January 31, internet hosting Senior Day towards Dartmouth at 3 p.m. within the Lions’ closing residence meet of the common season.

 

For the most recent on the Columbia males’s swimming and diving program, observe @CULionsMSD and @CULionsDiving on Instagram and Twitter, and on the net at GoColumbiaLions.com.