Annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton Meet Is More Than a Final Score
For four minutes at Blodgett Pool, pandemonium ensued. With just one event left in this annual tri-meet, Harvard and Yale prepared to battle in the 400-yard freestyle relay, opposite Princeton.
The roars of the Harvard faithful echoed through the natatorium, declaring their loyalty to “Harvard Swim.” The screams of the Yale supporters bounced back at them, encouraging their Bulldogs to fight on. And the Princeton congregation, reveling in their team’s performance, howled encouragement at their Tigers.
“It was a special moment,” said Yale Head Coach Jim Henry. “The room gave us such great energy.”
The Crimson men won the relay, and Princeton earned a pair of meet victories. But to the coaches and swimmers involved, the impact of the meet went well beyond the final score. In the renewal of a decades-long rivalry, all 3 teams gained valuable experiences, through an unforgettable event.
“You’re walking into a championship environment, but it’s a dual meet,” said Princeton men’s coach Matt Crispino. “That’s not lost on anybody involved, and it makes for a fun dual meet.”
A Rivalry Fuels All
There are a plethora of famous rivalries across college swimming, from the competitiveness of Stanford-Cal, to the tradition of Army-Navy. But there’s a common factor that makes the Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet that much more exciting: Shared history.
The meet, affectionately dubbed the “HYP Meet,” has taken place for decades. The competitiveness of each respective team in the Ivy League has made the meet constantly interesting, with 75 combined men’s and 48 combined women’s championships between the programs.
“It’s a phenomenal tradition,” said Henry. “You’re surrounded by people who truly love the sport in the stands, which is fuel for us.”
The meet’s history is also something not lost on the swimmers involved. Crispino pointed to a “research project” he oversees before the season starts every year, in which he asks each swimmer to learn about a former Princeton swimmer and present the information to the group.
“The history is very deeply ingrained in everyone who walks through this place,” Crispino said. “You can’t be a part of our team and not understand how our past shapes our future.”
Once an Ivy Leaguer, Always an Ivy Leaguer
That history doesn’t just follow the swimmers competing in the meet. It’s also reflected in the stands, packed with alumni of all three schools.
Henry recalled years in which he’d have former swimmers from all over reconnect with past teammates as part of the meet. He explained that having the swimmers come down to the railing during breaks, in order to reunite with him, was one of his favorite parts of the meet.
“The meet can almost be a mini-reunion for so many of our former swimmers,” said Henry. “It’s so cool how a four-year experience can turn into a lifelong connection.”
To Princeton senior Mitchell Schott, the connection between swimmers and alumni often stands out as well.
“Seeing them (at these meets) just resolidifies the family culture,” Schott said.
The swimmer still talks often with former Princeton swimmers, including alumni from back in the 1980s and 1990s.
“We’ll text about everything, not even just swimming,” he said. “You don’t see that type of relationship elsewhere.”
The support of the former swimmers can be heard through the stands, especially during tight events like the aforementioned relay.
“It’s a moment some of these athletes live for,” Henry said.
A New Generation
Today’s swimmers and coaches have done well to live up to the legacies of their predecessors. The competitiveness of the meet in recent years has generated additional hype.
“I remembered my frustration last year with losing that meet,” said Princeton junior Eleanor Sun. “It became a really high-stakes, high-energy meet because of the pressure, and how well people swim in those situations.”
This year’s meet was no different, as five of the six teams entered the meet undefeated. It created an environment, according to Coach Henry, that heavily matched what the Ivy League Champs could look like.
“The energy matches what we’re going to see in a couple of weeks,” he said. “It can almost serve as a preview for what’s to come.”
Ivy League Still a Draw
The passion and spirited competition at the HYP Meet come at one of the most interesting times in Ivy League history, as the presence of NIL looms over college sports.
The conference chose to opt out of the controversial House vs. NCAA settlement, leaving them without the ability to directly pay their athletes. It’s a decision that publications like Princeton Alumni Weekly and Harvard Magazine have surmised could be directly impactful to the Ivy League’s ability to recruit.
Henry, however, explained he hasn’t seen a disadvantage.
“Our league is amazing,” he said. “Different conferences have different abilities, but I see us as able to compete with the best.”
According to the coaches, there are even some advantages to the team not being a part of the settlement. The programs are not required to adhere to the roster limits that have come with the deal, capping swim programs at 30 men’s and 30 women’s swimmers.
“It’s great to not have to worry about (the roster limits),” said Princeton head women’s coach Abby Brethauer. “It’s really nice to not have to worry about, ‘Oh someone’s injured, or they need some time, and they can’t come with us.’”
With meets like HYP showcasing the Ivy League’s talent, the programs believe they’ll continue to be a top option for recruits everywhere.
“The ability to get a world-class education, compete at our sport’s highest level, and do it with as many teammates as our pool can hold, that’s awesome,” Crispino said. “I’d want to be a part of that endeavor.”
Gearing Up For Ivy Champs
The three schools will now redirect their attention to the men’s and women’s Ivy League Championships, starting on February 18 for the men and February 25 for the women. They’ll look to take the lessons from the tri-meet and improve upon their performance.
“The goal is to be your best competitor, at the best time,” Brethauer said. “I think everyone in our league tries to do that.”
Even as they shift their focus, the teams emphasized the importance of the HYP competition, not just for their seasons, but for the league.
“The speed of the meet, it just raises the profile for our league,” Crispino said. “We’re incredibly appreciative of the effort of the competition, because it makes us all better.”
