With the 2025 Ivy League Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships set to begin on Wednesday at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center, the Red is gearing up for its greatest test of the season. After securing its first winning Ivy League record in 14 years, the Red will enter the championship meet with momentum — and a point to prove.
For the seniors, this championship is more than just another meet — it’s the final chapter of their collegiate athletic careers. It’s a moment to reflect on the journey that brought them here and an opportunity to leave everything in the pool one last time.
For many on the team, the defining moment of the season came during the dramatic victory over Brown on the Bears’ senior day — a win that not only showcased the team’s resilience but also secured Cornell’s first winning Ivy League season since 2010-11.
“The most memorable moment of the year was certainly beating Brown on their senior day,” said senior Jack Banks. “It was our final Ivy League matchup, and we won by only four points out of 300 — it came down to the final relay.”
Fellow senior Dominic Edwards echoed the sentiment, recalling the way the team rallied after an early setback.
“The very first event, our medley relay unfortunately got disqualified, but we fought our way back throughout the meet, sealing the win in the final event by four points,” Edwards said. “That meet proved to us that we can overcome any adversity we may face.”
The historic victory over Brown wasn’t the only breakthrough for Cornell this season. The team also took down the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia for the first time in years, cementing their status as the most improved team in the Ivy League.
“This season, we’ve built the most momentum,” said senior Joseph Gurski. “The past three years, we’ve placed seventh at Ivy Championships. This season, we are on track to make a big change to that.”
The weeks leading up to the Ivy League Championships are a delicate balance of physical and mental preparation. Swimmers enter a period known as “tapering,” where they gradually reduce their training volume to ensure peak performance when it matters most.
“My mental and physical preparation involves intense and repetitive visualization,” Banks said. “I visualize what it’s going to feel like to jump off the blocks, hit my turns and touch the wall for every one of my races, and I’ve been doing this for months.”
For senior captain Sebastian Wolff, the mental side of preparation has been especially significant as he approaches the end of his competitive swimming career.
“Since it’ll be my final meet as a competitive athlete, there are a lot of emotions and newfound nerves going into this,” Wolff said. “I want to walk away from the sport knowing I put my all into its final moments, but with that comes pressure I’ve never experienced before.”
If there’s one thing these seniors agree on, it’s that Cornell’s success this season has been built on something deeper than just talent — it’s been fueled by brotherhood.
“This team is all about brotherhood,” Wolff said. “The alums came together and made a video for us showing their support. It means the world knowing team members from 10 years ago still keep track and feel like they’re a part of this team.”
That sense of unity has translated directly into performance.
“Our team’s camaraderie has been huge this year and has been one of the main reasons we have improved so much,” Edwards said. “One of our team values is brotherhood, and I can confidently say that every guy on this team has each other’s back and wants to see the guy next to them succeed.”
While Ivy League powerhouses like Harvard and Princeton boast deep rosters and elite facilities, the Red have found success through sheer determination.
“Where Cornell falls short from Harvard, Princeton and Yale in height and facilities, our team has heart,” Wolff said. “We win close touches and find a way to prevail against arguably stronger teams because we do this for something bigger than ourselves.”
That energy is what gives the team confidence heading into its final test.
“At every meet this year, I think we have been the loudest team on deck,” Edwards said. “The atmosphere this year is that we are swimming for something greater than ourselves. This mindset and commitment to supporting your brothers will help us achieve our goals at Ivys.”
As the team prepares to dive into competition in Providence, these seniors will carry with them years of memories, knowing that their time in the pool has been about more than just the races, but about the team that made every lap worth it.
