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 (Photo courtesy of Princeton's Office of Athletic Communications) caption:
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Tiger Swim Star Hsiao Heading to NCAA Meet; Aiming to Make Waves in Final College Event
By Bill Alden
Soft-spoken and gracious, Stephanie Hsiao hardly seems rebellious.
But when she came to Princeton University in 2001, the self-proclaimed hotshot from swimming hotbed Southern California thought she knew better than her Tiger coaches.
Having been brought up in a club program that emphasized sprinting drills, Hsiao fought the distance work that's a staple of the Princeton approach.
Hsiao suffered through a frustrating freshman season that saw her times stay static and her results fall short of her lofty expectations.
Realizing that she had to adapt to thrive, Hsiao sat down with Princeton coach Susan Teeter before her sophomore season and pledged to buy into the Tiger system. Hsiao immediately started to realize her considerable potential, qualifying for the NCAA meet that year.
In her junior season, she returned to the NCAA after winning three individual events at the Ivy League championship meet to help lead the Tigers to their fifth straight Ivy title.
Later this week, Hsiao heads to West Lafayette, Ind. for her final NCAA meet. She comes into the competition as a hot swimmer, having dominated the 2005 Ivy meet in late February by claiming seven gold medals and setting three school records in the process.
Before plunging into the pool last week for a training session, Hsiao grinned sheepishly as she reflected on the rocky start to her Princeton career.
"I came here and it was so different," said Hsiao, a native of Irvine, Calif., who was drawn to Princeton by the "more intense vibe" she sensed in the east coast lifestyle.
"I was reluctant to let go of my training. I just wasn't open-minded about adjusting to the training here. I think I tried to coach myself too much my freshman year."
Once Hsiao gained trust in the Tiger system, her swimming experience resembled her early years in the sport. "At that point, I just really enjoyed swimming," said Hsiao, recalling her debut at age 10 in the Novaquatic program.
"I joined the club and formed friendships and then it became more about going to practice to see my friends. From there, you develop goals. It was natural for me; I can't imagine what I would've done without it."
Princeton coach Teeter believes that Hsiao's early struggles in college were a natural part of the maturing process.
"Steph is such a hard worker," said Teeter, who laughs when she recalls Hsiao's so-called freshman "rebellion."
"Even with the different regimen, you could never have known that it was difficult for her. I think the main thing is that she started to grow up. She took disappointment and turned it into success. I think that's the sign of a true champion."
Hsiao gave the most graphic demonstration of her championship heart at the Ivy meet held at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool when she was named the meet's Most Outstanding Swimmer after taking individual titles in the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley and helping the Tigers to victories in four relays (200 free, 400 free, 800 free, 200 medley).
"The first night, winning the medley really set the tone," said Hsiao, whose stunning individual effort wasn't enough to carry Princeton to the league title as the Tigers finished second to Harvard.
"I didn't expect to win all the events that I did, I was very fortunate. As a senior, you know what to expect and you have a certain confidence. You have that nervous energy before you swim in a race. It's just a matter of just getting up and doing it."
Teeter certainly enjoyed watching Hsiao get it done at the Ivy meet. "She's been such a great athlete for us and such a good person for this program and school," asserted Teeter, noting that Hsiao's mature approach as a team captain helped her teammates deal with the tragic death of Princeton men's swimmer Alan Ebersole last October.
"We just wanted her to win. Her 49.6 in the 100 free was one of the more remarkable swims I've witnessed in my coaching career. I loved seeing a kid like that have great success and get everything she deserves."
While Teeter has confidence in Hsiao's ability to shine at the upcoming NCAA meet, she knows her star will miss the support of her teammates.
"She is a great competitor who knows how to race," added Teeter. "She loves being in that camaraderie and performing on behalf of the entire group. So when we go to the NCAAs, it's just her wearing orange and black. I know that she wants to swim well but there's that little piece missing called family. They're not there going nuts for her."
No matter what happens at the NCAA meet, Hsiao has already put together a memorable final campaign. "I'm really happy with how the season has gone," said Hsiao, who will swim in the 50- and 100-free events at the NCAA meet.
"I've been telling everyone I never had more fun than I did at our last conference meet. I think it was a great way for me to end the season, my last meet ever at DeNunzio. I've never laughed so much on the deck with my teammates. We all swam fast and we didn't feel like we lost something."
Hsiao has gained a lot more than laughs from her Princeton experience. "There is so much stuff I have learned interacting with Teeter and my teammates," asserted Hsiao, an East Asian studies major whose senior thesis delves into the political role of sports in China .
"I've learned about leadership skills, talking to people, and how to communicate. I learned when I need to ask for help and to trust in what I'm doing."
And Hsiao has earned the trust of her teammates as she has put together one of the more remarkable careers in the program's history.
