Princeton University Athletics
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Strong Fall, Experienced Rowers Cause Optimism For Women's Lightweights; Weekend Home Schedule Included
March 30, 2007 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
With the talent spreading in the women's lightweight crew community, the traditional powers know that they need to build their own depth to stay among the elite. Princeton head coach Paul Rassam has been building that depth, and it came at the expense of last year's postseason races, when the young Tigers were unable to find the medal stand. Those disappointments are now building blocks, and following the most successful fall in Rassam's tenure, there is plenty of optimism for 2007.
"Last year, I felt we were in position to contend, but it just didn't work out," Rassam said days before the 2007 season opener, which will take place Sunday against Bucknell on Lake Carnegie (full weekend schedule below). "We are more experienced now, more mature, and it is reflective in the way we trained in the offseason."
The highlight of the offseason came in late October, when Princeton was the top collegiate crew at the Head of the Charles, The Tigers also defeated the talented Riverside Boat Club, an impressive notch on the Princeton belt. The Tigers are led by captain Caitlin Corr, who Rassam praised for her leadership.
"She knows when to give an encouraging word, or when to be fiery," he said. "She knows when to just lead by example. She's been a varsity eight member throughout her career."
There is great competition for seats in that boat, as Princeton has had two strong novice eights in the past years and brought in a terrific Class of 2010. "This depth has created a scenario where we are in a constant racing atmosphere," Rassam said. "It's just a much more mature approach that we take to training."
Rassam knows that the Tigers will need to be mature this season as the field of challengers grows each year. While the typical challengers, including Radcliffe, Wisconsin and Georgetown will remain in the hunt, a team like Central Florida proved last season that the sport is growing.
"As disappointing as IRAs were for us last season, it was a great weekend for the sport of lightweight women's crew," Rassam said. "The semifinal heats were some of the most competitive racing throughout the entire IRA competition. We're excited to have added MIT and Central Florida to our schedule this year. There is also going to be a second varsity eight at Eastern Sprints for the first time, which shows the depth that some programs have built."
Princeton is one of those programs, and while no coach knows exactly what he's got until the season begins, Rassam believes that Princeton's depth and experience will guide it back to the medal stand.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
9:20 - MHW 3V
9:40 • MHW 1F
10:00 • MHW 2V
10:15 • MHW 1V
10:00 • MLW Coxswains meeting
11:10 • MLW 2F/3V 4+
11:30 • MLW 1F
11:45 • MLW 2V
12:00 • MLW 1V
SUNDAY
9:00 - WLW 1N
9:20 - WLW 2V
9:40 - WLW 1V