Women’s swim and dive ended the 2026 season at No. 6 in the Ivy League, marking its highest Ivy League finish since 2010.
The Red finished ahead of Dartmouth and Columbia, but behind Yale, Brown, Harvard, UPenn and champions Princeton at the 2026 Ivy League Championships on Feb. 21.
After finishing fifth in the 2010 Ivy League Championship, women’s swim and dive has since won nine seventh place finishes and five eighth place finishes — 14 seasons without finishing higher than seventh place. That streak ended with this weekend’s performance.
Women’s assistant coach Noah Beck credited the record finish to the team’s persistence and a renewed team spirit after its past hardships.
“It started way back in August,” Beck said. “[Head coach Patrick Gallagher] put a lot of emphasis on team culture this year, building those foundations. [Those sorts of] things may not pay off immediately, but [we] saw them pay off throughout the season.”
Beck further credited the result to the steadfast determination of many swimmers during the offseason.
“When [we] were in spring training and [seeing] how hard they worked, it’s no surprise,” Beck said. “I think that commitment to hard work certainly paid off in the end.”
The women swam a total of 14 personal best times during the weekend, an increase from the nine personal bests achieved in last year’s championship.
Junior Hojung Yoon starred for the Red, swimming three personal bests and competing in the A Final of the 200-yard individual medley, finishing fourth overall. Hojung also finished ninth overall in the 200-yard backstroke and 10th overall in the 400-yard individual medley.
“[Hojung]’s a tenacious racer,” Beck said. “She’s someone who works really hard, really consistently and just has a really steady approach to the sport. She was thrilled with her performances.”
Freshman Lilla Kuziemko also shone for the Red, competing in the A Final of the one meter dive, ending in eighth overall.
Beck praised Kuziemko’s performance, calling it “big time,” then praised all the divers representing the Red at the championship.
“Top to bottom, the divers were awesome,” Beck said. “To be able to peak at the right time and show up when the lights are brightest, that’s something that they certainly deserve a lot of credit for.”
Senior Audrey Holden had an opportunity to become the third swimmer to compete in an A Final for the Red. Alas, she ended the preliminary round of the 100-yard breaststroke in ninth, a mere .02 seconds from the coveted eighth position.
“It was tough,” Beck said. “It was one of [Holden’s] goals to be in that A Final.”
Despite Holden’s disappointment, Beck noted that she rebounded well and earned a personal best in her last-ever race.
“[Holden] did a great job of coming back, she closed out with a lifetime best [in] the 200[-yard] breaststroke,” Beck said. “She certainly showed a lot of resilience to get back to it, get focused and keep competing.”
Holden wasn’t the only senior who ended her career on a high note. Fellow senior Jungmin Yoon closed the curtain on her career with seven personal bests and a top 10 finish in the 200-yard freestyle.
“I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to end a swimming career,” Beck said. “I don’t think you could put together a better senior year, but definitely not a better senior [championship meet than Jungmin’s].”
Others excelled in their relay races. Even though junior Kate Yee finished ninth overall in the 200-yard butterfly, Beck judged that her split in the 400-yard medley relay was her most impressive feat of the meet.
“[Yee] split a 53.6 in the 400-yard medley relay, [while] she swam a [54.4] in her individual [race],” Beck said. “She outperformed her individual by a landslide. [It’s] a real testament to how much she wanted it for her team.”
Sophomore Rosalee Springer also had a standout performance in her relay events. Anchoring the 200, 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays, Beck commented on her brilliant performances.
“[Springer] has consistently delivered in [anchor] position,” Beck said. “I think [she] really takes that responsibility to heart and really elevates herself when she’s in that position.”
Freshman Oceane Vanlinthout put 32 points on the board, marking her the third-highest scorer for the Red — despite finishing no higher than 15th place in her events.
With the conclusion of the Ivy League Championship, women’s swim and dive has no further matches on the schedule for the 2025-2026 season.
