FREE FLOWING: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Cameron Davis displays her freestyle form in a race earlier this season. Last Thursday against visiting Lawrence High, junior star Davis prevailed in both the 100 and 200 freestyle races to help PHS win the meet 116-54. The Little Tigers are next in action when they compete at the Mercer County Championship meet at WW/P-North from January 24-26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cameron Davis didn’t feel 100 percent as the Princeton High girls’ swimming team hosted Lawrence High last Thursday, but that didn’t keep her from producing a superb performance in the meet.

PHS junior star Davis posted wins in both the 100-yard and 200 freestyle races as the Little Tigers cruised to a 116-54 victory over the Cardinals.

“I am feeling a little sick today so the swims were not as good as they could have been,” said Davis. “I am not mad about it, I think they were pretty solid.”

With the Little Tigers having started the week by defeating Notre Dame 109-61 on January 15, Davis saw the victory over Lawrence as another solid performance for the squad.

“We have been doing a really good job of staying motivated, even if it is a hard meet for us, and swimming as fast as we can,” said Davis.

With two high school seasons under her belt, Davis is working harder this season to keep her teammates motivated.

“It is funny because I am used to being an underclassman, so is this is my first year in a leadership position,” said Davis.

“It is a lot of fun, I try to be there if there are any questions on how we need to work and things like that.”

Davis has been showing her leadership taking an even-keeled approach to competition and being open to swimming a number of events.

“I think I have been doing a good job of making sure that I keep a clear head, even if I don’t feel well during warmup,” said Davis, who also swims for the Princeton Piranhas club team.

“That is something I have been working on for a while. I like sprint races because they are a little shorter. I have been open to longer freestyle races, I think they are fun.”

PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz had fun seeing her girls’ squad end regular season competition with the wins over Notre Dame and Lawrence.

“It has been really good to go into counties and states and all of that with these last two wins,” said Misiewicz, whose team moved to 7-4 with the victories.

“You never really know who Lawrence and Notre Dame have; they always bring really good competition.”

Misiewicz credits Davis with being a top competitor for PHS.

“Cammie is always an all-star swimmer, she is the kind of person who can get in and swim anything,” said Misiewicz.

“I think I have put her in the 200 free, the individual medley, the 50 free, the 100 butterfly, the 100 free, and the 100 backstroke. I think breaststroke and the 500 are the only things that she hasn’t swum this season.”

Davis is also boosting the team’s spirit on the deck with her upbeat personality.

“She is a really fun and easy person to get along with and the girls just gravitate towards her,” said Misiewicz.

“She is very positive all the time, which is awesome. That is something you look for in a leader. We do have a small senior class, so we are not graduating a lot.”

Tracey Liu has emerged as a positive force this winter for the Little Tigers.

“Tracey is someone who is really setting the bar high as a freshman,” said Misiewicz of Liu, who placed first in the 200 IM and 100 back against Lawrence.

“She is another very positive, very social person. She is definitely getting to know everybody on the team and wanting to be a part of things. I have her in class as a teacher and she tells me all the time, ‘I am having so much fun, I really like it.’ ”

With PHS competing at the Mercer County Championship meet at WW/P-North from January 24-26, Misiewicz likes her team’s chances to do well at the meet.

“You never really know who else is going to go for the other teams,” said Misiewicz.

“It is what is the best lineup  we can put in. It is how can we squeak out as many points as possible, there is a strategy to that. We have really come a long way as a team this year since going into the winter break 3-3. They understand and I always stress that it is about what is best for the team. I tell them don’t care so much about your times, they will come around when the time is ready.”

Davis, for her part, believes the Little Tigers are ready for a big performance this weekend.

“We are definitely in a good spot, we have been working hard this season; I am excited to see how well we do at counties,” said Davis.

“I am going to focus on having a good time with my team, considering after this year I only have one more year left.”