Princeton Looks For Statement Win Over Reigning IRA Champion During Carnegie Cup Weekend

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Senior heavyweight captain Augustin Wambersie and his Princeton classmates understand the challenge — and the opportunity — that stands in front of them this weekend.

The seventh-ranked Tiger heavyweights will head to the Cayuga Inlet Saturday morning to face both #2 Yale and #12 Cornell in the 97^th edition of the Carnegie Cup regatta. While the Bulldogs have had other more notable accomplishments recently, they matched a program record last season on Lake Carnegie when they won the Cup for the fourth straight time.

Yale went on to win its third straight Sprints title one month later, and then the Bulldogs went to California and became the first Eastern crew to win the IRA national championship since 2005. They are unbeaten at every level this season, including an impressive win by nearly seven seconds over #4 Brown in the season opener.

"Yale are the crew to beat on the east coast but I think everyone is noticing that the top of the field is compressing, which makes for some really exciting and sometimes unexpected results," Wambersie said. "After last week's loss this race is the perfect opportunity for us to prove ourselves in the 1V. For the team as a whole it will be an awesome opportunity to show the depth and strength of the squad."

Princeton isn't far off Yale's pace in overall boat record this season. The Tigers are 23-1 over the span of the spring, but that lone loss came last weekend in the Compton Cup showdown on the Charles River. Fifth-ranked Harvard was able to grab a slight lead early, and while Princeton remained in contact for the full 2000 meters, the Tigers never made up the full deficit and fell by two seconds.

"We need to stick to our guns and not overthink races," Wambersie said. "We have been doing some really good training but were not able to bring our best to that piece. It's not something we will forget."

They will need to put that less to use immediately, as the Cornell 1V has also gotten off to a strong start this season, with a loss to Harvard as the lone blemish on their resumé. The Big Red also have the home advantage on the Cayuga, which can be a tricky course to those less accustomed to it.

The regatta, which is currently scheduled to be streamed on the Ivy League Network, is set to begin with a 3V race at 8:45 and continue with racing every 30 minutes. The Carnegie Cup will be on the line at 9:15 am.

Princeton leads the all-time series with 37 wins, while Cornell has 34 victories and Yale has 25.

RACE SCHEDULE
8:45 am - 3V
9:15 am - 1V (Carnegie Cup)
9:45 am - 2V
10:15 am - 4V
10:50 am - 5V

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