NEW YORK - The Columbia women's swimming and diving team is coming off of a spectacular 2011-12 season filled with program records and monumental first time achievements. In their 21st season under the leadership of Head Coach Diana Caskey, the Lions look to continue with the precedent of success in the upcoming 2012-13 season.

With an 8-1, 6-1 Ivy League record last season, the Lions fed off a six meet winning streak to finish fourth in the Ivy League Championships. En route to a team career best 1,057 points, Columbia captured five Ivy League titles in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM, 200 free relay, and 400 medley relay. The 2012 Ivy League's Most Outstanding Swimmer, junior Katie Meili, led Columbia with three individual titles. Columbia capped the amazing 2011-12 season with a top-25 team finish in the 2012 NCAA Championships, led by All-American Meili.

Feature Article: Women's S&D Capped Season With A Top 25 Finish; 2012 Season Highlights

Columbia graduated six seniors from the 2011-12 team, including last season's team captains Dorothy Baker and Caitlin Rogers. With a talented first-year class, the development of the team's young swimmers, and the leadership of new captains Katie Meili, Kristina Parsons, and Caroline Lukins, the Lions are determined to continue the path the class of 2012 helped build.

Feature Video: The Columbia Women's Swimming Experience - The Class of 2012

Columbia Key Returners

Mikaila Gaffey ('15CC) -Member of the 2012 Ivy League Champion 200 free-relay squad earning first-team All-Ivy League Honors with a program record time of 1:32.58. -Member of the Ivy Leauge runner-up 400 free-relay squad earning second-team All-Ivy League Honors with another program record of 3:21.73	Salena Huang ('15CC) -Member of the 2012 Ivy League Champion 200 free-relay squad earning first-team All-Ivy League Honors with a program record time of 1:32.58. -Earned first-team All-Ivy league honor as a member of the 400 medley relay squad. -In January 2012, she garnered five first-place victories in three meets.	Laney Kluge ('14CC) -Member of the 2012 Ivy League Champion 200 free-relay squad earning first-team All-Ivy League Honors  a program record time of 1:32.58. -Recieved 2012 Mid-Major All-American Honors by CollegeSwimming.com	Katie Meili ('13CC) -Captured five 2012 Ivy League titles, including three individual -Unanimously voted 2012 Ivy League Most Outstanding Swimmer -Set a school, pool, and Ivy Leauge record time in the 200 IM with a time of 1:57.38 -Set school, pool, and Ivy League record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.64 -At the 2012 NCAA Championships she set a program record in the 100 breast (59.44) on her way to a fifth place finish. She captured All-America honors in the event. -Competed in the 100 breast at the 2012 Olympic Trials

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Columbia will open the season jumping right into Ivy League play with road trips to Yale on Friday, Nov. 9 and Harvard on Friday, Nov. 16. The Lions will remain on the road for the 2012 calendar year highlighted by trips to the US Winter Nationals in Austin, Texas, the diving teams' competition in the Brown Invitational, and the final meet at Penn on Friday, Dec. 7.

Taking a break from league play, the home opener against Bucknell will begin the 2013 year for the Lions on Saturday, Jan. 5. Columbia will quickly resume league play at Cornell on Saturday, Jan. 19, but return to Uris Pool on  Saturday, Jan. 26 for an exciting homecoming meet with Brown. For the final home meet of the season on Friday, Feb. 8, Columbia will host reigning Ivy League champion Princeton for what will sure to be a battle following last season's historic meet.

Feature Article: Women's S&D Get Historic Win Over Princeton, 173-127

The Lions will complete the regular season in Hanover, N.H. taking on Dartmouth on Sunday, Feb. 10. The 2013 Ivy League Championships will follow in Princeton, N.J. on Feb. 28 - Saturday, March 2.