By Bill Alden

As the Princeton High girls’ swimming team hosted Steinert last Thursday, it displayed its depth and versatility, mixing and matching its lineup on the way to a 107-59 win.

“I had a lot of girls in a lot of different events that they don’t normally swim,” said PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz.

“For example, Margaret Hill was in the breaststroke and she doesn’t normally swim that. I was trying some of the freshmen like Reece Gallagher and Macaela Wilton in different places. I wanted to see if they can excel anywhere else. I feel like we are deeper than we have been in the last couple years which is good.”

Senior Cameron Davis excelled against Steinert, winning the 50 freestyle and taking second in the 100 butterfly while setting an upbeat tone on the deck at the John Witherspoon Middle School pool.

“Cammie had a good day, she is always so positive,” said Misiewicz. “I ask her ‘do you want to swim anything in particular?’ and it is always ‘where do you need me, coach? I will do whatever.’ She is also one of those very versatile swimmers. She is such a positive person to have on the pool deck and on the team. She really makes a conscious effort to get to know everybody and make sure that all of the new swimmers feel welcome and appreciated.”

Another versatile PHS swimmer, junior Emily Bauser, took first in the 200 individual medley.

“Emily is another very positive person; after the first meet, we had two good new breaststrokers and she got out of the pool and said ‘I am glad I am not the only breaststroker any more; I am glad I have some company,’” said Misiewicz, whose other veteran standouts include senior Hill, senior Ria Sharma, and sophomore Tracey Liu.

“She is a very consistent swimmer as well, she will swim anything. She is good in the 200 free relay and the medley as well.”

PHS boasts a core of good newcomers in transfers Laura Liu and Jensen Tinevez along with freshmen Beatrice Cai, Annie Zhao, Gallagher, and Wilton.

“Laura is someone who transferred in from New York, she is coming huge for us in the sprints,” said Misiewicz.

“She swam in the 200 and 500 for us today just to do something different. At practice, she is there every single day consistently working hard. Jensen moved in from California. We have some all-star freshmen in Beatrice and Annie, they are all-around studs as well.”

With PHS having posted three straight wins since a 100-70 loss to WW/P-North on December 3 in its season opener, Misiewicz likes the work she is getting from her swimmers.

“The good thing was that in these last three meets we have been able to test the waters a little bit more and try people in different events and see if I can find that best fit,” said Misiewicz, whose team was slated to swim at WW/P-South on December 17 and at Robbinsville on December 19 in its last action before the holidays.

“We are excited to have some really good competition. I think that is what North taught us. Some people who are brand new to the team were like wow, they are good, but so are we. I said ‘don’t sell yourself short, it is just having that positive attitude and mindset going forward.’”