Crew: Success expected in spring

Men’s lightweight crew looks to build on a solid 2007-08 campaign. Ranked No. 1 nationally for most of last season, the Tigers were edged out by Cornell, the eventual champion in the Interscholastic Rowing Association (IRA) finals. Last fall, Princeton rebounded, placing first at the Head of the Charles in Cambridge, Mass. The Tigers, however, are not resting on their laurels and are focused on another title run.

“The fall results were rewarding, but it is just the fall,” head coach Greg Hughes ’96 said. “It has been five months since the Charles. We have been training hard ever since, and so have our opponents. The spring season will be a clean slate.”

Crew’s freshman class of 16, is showing great promise. There will be intense competition that should motivate the squad.

“[The freshmen] have a good work ethic, and the personality of this class has had an impact on the boathouse,” Hughes noted. “This class has pushed themselves very hard in preparation for college racing, and I am looking forward to seeing how their freshman boat races this spring.”

In women’s lightweight crew, the story is similar. Last year, the Tigers placed second in the Eastern Association of Women’s Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) Sprints for the second consecutive year and finished fifth in the IRA final.

“The IRA final was of course a big disappointment, but we do not dwell on it,” head coach Paul Rassam ’97 said. “Our focus is forward-looking, with our main motivation stemming from the opportunities in front of us.”

Given the success of the past two seasons, one impressive feature of this lightweight girls squad is its youth. Freshmen and sophomores contribute in each of the lightweight boats from the varsity eight down. The Tigers are working towards the ultimate goal of winning both in the EAWRC and at the IRA finals.

“We are focused on making steady progress from week to week, with an eye on peaking at the right time: for the championship races,” Rassam said. “We are excited to test ourselves in the early part of the season and find out what we have to work on the hardest to be fully prepared for the most important races in May and June.”

Both lightweight programs will look to add to an already impressive track record by bringing home medals in the big races.

Discussing the likelihood of his team’s making its goals become reality, Rassam added that “preparations are going well.”

The heavyweight crew had a shaky fall. Though a disappointing two-second penalty cost them a top-12 finish at the Charles, the Tigers rebounded, placing second at the Princeton Chase. After training all winter, Princeton is focused on finishing on the podium at the two big races at the end of the season: the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges sprints and IRA finals.

“Our goal is always to be the best: we want to win easterns and nationals,” head coach Curtis Jordan said.

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The sophomore class is expected to contribute to that goal in a major way. Last season as freshman in the novice eight, the Class of 2011 rowers placed an impressive sixth in the grand final.

“Last year’s freshman crew was very good, and those rowers are having a very positive impact in this year’s varsity,” Jordan said. “Every member of the Class of [2011] has returned, and [they] are all doing great.”

For the open women, a veteran squad that graduated just two seniors will seek to place in the EAWRC and lead the Ivy League. The Tigers had a strong fall, placing second at the Princeton Chase, and took that momentum into winter training.

“The varsity eight will come into the season a little more seasoned and experienced,” head coach Lori Dauphiny said. “I am very excited about the team, and I am looking forward to watching this year’s senior class step up to the plate and lead the ranks.”

Still, there will be Ivy League competition for the team that placed fourth in EAWRC Sprints last season. Look for Brown, Yale and Harvard to challenge the Tigers throughout the spring.

The men’s lightweight team will start its spring run at home on Saturday with the Fosburgh Cup against Georgetown and Trinity.

The same morning, the open crew will face Brown and Michigan for the Brown and Princeton Trophy, and the heavyweight squad will open its season against Georgetown and Trinity.

The women’s lightweight team will have its home opener on April 4 against MIT.