2021-22 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster
Biography
As a junior (2019-20)
• Competed in all nine meets as a junior, including the Ivy League Championships.
• Raced in the 100- and 200-backstroke, as well as the 200-IM, at Ivies, scoring points in all three events.
• Qualified for the B Final of the 200-backstroke, finishing 14th in 1:47.95.
• Made the C Final in the 200-IM (1:50.07) and 100-backstroke (50.22) at the conference meet, placing 20th and 24th, respectively.
• Qualified for the A Final of the 100- and 200-backstroke at the Zippy Invitational, placing third overall in the 200-backstroke among 33 competitors in 1:47.30.
• Recorded a trio of top-five finishes in the 200-backstroke in Ivy League duals against Columbia, Yale, and Brown, including a second-place showing against the Lions.
As a sophomore (2018-19)
• Made the A final in the 200 back, placing eighth overall at the Ivy League Championship in 1:44.94 - an NCAA B cut time and the fourth-fastest swim in Cornell history.
As a freshman (2017-18)
• Finished eighth in the 200 back finals at the Ivy League Championship.
• Placed 22nd in the 100 back at the Ivy League Championship earning him a spot in the C finals.
• Also scored in the 200 IM with the sixth-fastest time in Cornell history (1:48.60).
• Took second in the 200 IM in a dual meet win at Bryant.
• Achieved two personal best times during the year.
• Captured the 200 back title at the Ithaca Bomber Invitational.
Prior to Cornell
• Cates was an NISCA All-American in both the 200 IM and 100 back while competing at Tampa Preparatory School.
• Named the Outstanding Contributor on the swimming and diving team at Tampa Prep in each of his final three seasons.
• Was a two-time state medalist in the 200 IM and once in the 100 back.
• Named a U.S.A. Swimming Scholastic All-American as a sophomore, junior and senior.
Personal
• Van Alan Cates is the son of Van Sr. and Virginia Cates.
• He is enrolled in the College of Engineering.
Historical Player Information
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2017-18Freshman
Back/IM
6'0"
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2018-19Sophomore
Back/IM
6'0"
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2019-20Junior
Back/IM
6'0"
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2020-21Senior
Back/IM
6'0"
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2021-22Graduate Student
Back/IM
6'0"
