Princeton University Athletics
Lightweight Men Look To Break Trend, Win EARC Sprints As Top Seed; Video Of Goldthwait Cup Included
May 08, 2009 | Men's Rowing - Lightweight
In the last three years, the top-seeded men's lightweight program has
left the EARC Championships without gold. The undefeated and top-seeded
Princeton Tigers will head to Lake Quinsigamond with every intention of
ending that streak. To get you ready for Eastern Sprints, video of the
season-ending HYP regatta is included.
Princeton has been atop the national rankings all season and has taken on the elite programs in men's lightweight rowing throughtout an impressive regular season. The Tigers own victories against every team seeded second through eighth during the regular season, including wins over second-seeded Harvard and fifth-seeded Yale in the season-ending Goldthwait Cup regatta on April 25. TigerCam has highlights of the race that can be seen at the bottom of this story.
All those victories won't provide Princeton any advantage Sunday, except for intangible ones of confidence and momentum. Like all other teams, Princeton will need a top-three finish in its 11:48 semifinal heat, which includes fourth-seeded Georgetown, fifth-seeded Yale, eighth-seeded Columbia and 11th-seeded Dartmouth.
"Sprints is Sprints," head coach Greg Hughes said. "The slate is clean. It is six-boat racing, as opposed to dual racing from the regular season. This league is so tight, you have to have two strong races. Our immediate goal is to make sure we get in to the championship final."
After a second-place finish to Cornell last year, Princeton has dedicated itself for the 2009 championships. Following a strong fall racing season, the individual lightweight rowers put forth one of their best winter workout efforts. Hughes was pleased with the offseason improvements, but until racing began, he wasn't entirely sure how it would translate.
Any concerns were put to rest early. After a season-opening win over Georgetown, Princeton avenged its only regular-season loss last year with a victory over Navy in the Murtaugh Cup. The Tigers went on the road for a dominant win over reigning Eastern and national champion Cornell, then defeated Penn, Harvard and Yale -- each by open water -- to end the season.
"I'm proud of having such a good season," Hughes said. "Six-boat racing is different than dual racing, though. You act and react when there are only two or three boats. Against a full field, you need to be focused on your own boat. It's why this is such a cool race, and such a special race to be a part of."
It's also a special class that makes up the majority of the varsity eight. There are five seniors in Hughes' top boat, each of whom came in during Hughes' first season as the head coach of his alma mater. It would be a fitting finale for their four-year journey to end with the only medal they have yet to share together -- gold. The grand final is scheduled for 5:36 Sunday.
Princeton will send four boats to Eastern Sprints, and each needs a top-three finish in its semifinal heat to make its respective grand final. The 2V, seeded fifth, will row at 10:12 against Yale, Harvard, Penn and Dartmouth. The fifth-seeded 3V will take on only Yale and Harvard in its heat (there are only seven 3V boats entered), and the fourth-seeded freshman eight will take on Cornell, Georgetown, Navy and Penn at 9:12.
To read Row2K's weekend preview, click here.
GoPrincetonTigers.com will have a full report of the 2009 EARC Championships Sunday evening.