Princeton 42nd in Director's Cup
For the eighth consecutive year, Princeton was the top non-scholarship athletic program, according to the 2004-05 Director's Cup Standings released in June.
The Orange and Black finished 42nd overall in the national rankings, edging 43rd-place Harvard by two points.
"It is gratifying for everyone in our department," Director of Athletics Gary Walters '67 wrote in an email, "to know that we've been able to sustain an almost unprecedented level of athletic performance for a significant period of time."
Disappointing seasons by several of Princeton's signature programs, however, dropped the University to its lowest finish in the overall rankings since 1997, when it placed 60th. Princeton's best showing was the 21st it placed after the 2001-02 school year.
Presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the Director's Cup is designed to rank all-around athletic program excellence. Schools are awarded points for their performances in the 37 sports in which the NCAA holds a national championship.
The women's soccer team was the biggest contributor to the Tigers' 448.25 point total, earning 83 points for its College Cup appearance. Women's crew chipped in 73 points with its fifth-place national finish.
Stanford finished first overall for the 11th straight year, tallying 1238.75 points, followed by Texas, UCLA, Michigan and Duke.
"In order to sustain our success we'll have to adapt with the changing competitive landscape," Walters wrote. "Our worthy Ivy competition is never standing still. We'll have to continue to make investments and adjustments in response to our competition if we hope to maintain our competitive edge, an operating reality that all areas of the University must confront."
Hughes named new lightweight coach
Greg Hughes '96 was named the head coach of the men's lightweight crew on June 20. After winning two national titles as a lightweight rower during his Princeton career, Hughes has spent the past eight years coaching the men's heavyweight freshman rowers.
"Greg is all about hard work and is a stickler for detail," said senior heavyweight Steve Coppola, a member of Hughes' 2003 freshman boat that went undefeated and won the Eastern Sprints. "When you put those two character traits together it makes a coach who will be able to get a lot out of his guys and make them go fast."
Hughes replaces Joe Murtaugh, who retired in May after 17 years at the helm. The Tigers won four national titles and four Eastern Sprints titles under Murtaugh.
Marty Crotty '98 takes over as head coach of the heavyweight freshmen. He was a member of the Tigers' 1996 and 1998 national champion heavyweight boats.
In other crew news, women's open assistant coach Wendy Levash departed to become head coach at Dartmouth. Levash coached the freshman open boat during her time at Princeton.
Sebastiani to retire at end of season
Michael Sebastiani, the head coach of the men's and women's fencing teams, will retire at the end of the 2005-06 school year, the University announced in June.
In 24 seasons at Princeton, Sebastiani has compiled an overall record of 325-166, winning nine Ivy League titles and six IFA national championships. He is known for occasionally coaching with his eyes closed.
Sophomore grabs title
On July 23, sophomore golfer Annika Welander pulled off a dramatic upset, edging 22-year LPGA veteran Allison Finney to win the Illinois Women's Open championship.
After a tournament-record five-under-par 67 propelled Welander into a first-place tie heading into the tournament's final day, she shot a 70 to top Finney by one stroke with a three-day total of 207, nine under par.
Weldander was the lone freshman starter for the women's golf team this spring, finishing 23rd at the Ivy League championships and 81st at NCAA East Regionals.
Tigers represent U.S. in Israel at Maccabiah games
Princeton was well represented at the 17th World Maccabiah Games — the so-called "Jewish Olympics" — in Israel this July.
Junior Meir Hasbani swam in four events, winning silver and bronze in the 200-meter and 400m individual medley, respectively, and narrowly missing out on two more medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly.
Meanwhile, senior point guard Scott Greenman and sophomore forward Harrison Schaen earned bronze medals as part of the United States basketball team. Greenman was elected a captain by his teammates and started at point guard throughout the tournament.
After dropping only one game in round-robin play — a disappointing loss to France — the U.S. squad fell to eventual champion Israel in the semifinals. But the team bounced back to top Australia by 35 points in the third-place game.
Men's basketball assistant coach Howard Levy '85 also hit the court in Israel, coaching the U.S. youth basketball squad 20 years after he played in the Games.
For all of the participants, the experience was about far more than just sports. Athletes toured historical sites and enjoyed the Israeli nightlife, which Greenman termed "completely underrated."
But the participants also got a firsthand look at the tenuous Middle East political climate, coming face-to-face with young Israeli soldiers and citizens protesting the Gaza withdrawal.
"The Maccabiah is among the most amazing experiences of my life," Hasbani wrote in an email. "It was simply incredible to witness and participate in such a huge, Jewish event."
Orange and Black alums sign in Europe
Two recent graduates will be continuing their basketball careers in Europe this fall after signing contracts over the summer.
Point guard Ed Persia '04 signed with Andrea Costa Imola of Italy's second division league, while center Judson Wallace '05 will play for Eisbaren Bremerhaven of First Bundesliga, the top league in Germany.
Lax stars to represent U.S.
Four men's lacrosse alumni were selected to represent the United States at the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship in London, Ont. Attack Ryan Boyle '04, midfielder Matt Striebel '01 and goalie Trevor Tierney '01 played on the 2002 gold medal-winning squad, while defenseman Christian Cook '98 will be making his national team debut.
In August, Tierney and Cook teamed to help lead the Baltimore Bayhawks to a Major League Lacrosse championship. Midfielder Josh Sims '00 also played for the Bayhawks.
Earlier in the summer, the Rochester Rattlers drafted attack Jason Donneger '05 with the 11th pick in the MLL draft.
On the women's side, three Tigers were named to the U.S. Developmental team this summer: defender Elizabeth Pillion '05 and attacks Kathleen Miller '07 and Katie Lewis-Lamonica '08. Miller and Lewis-Lamonica have won the last two Ivy League Rookie of the Year awards.
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