Princeton University Athletics
Women's Lightweights Eyeing Continued Success In 2011 Season
March 25, 2011 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
The Princeton women's lightweight crew cleared a big hurdle during the last postseason. After a stretch of earning a medal at one event and not the other, Princeton was on the podium for both the 2010 EAWRC Championships and the IRA national championships. The Tigers hope to use that foundation of success and build towards a golden end this season.
It won't take Princeton long to see where it currently stands against the two biggest fish in the season. The Tigers are making their annual trip to Redwood Shores, Calif., for the Pac-Ten Invitational, and among the trio of teams they will face will be reigning EAWRC champion Wisconsin and reigning IRA national champion Stanford.
Princeton was within five seconds of both teams during both the regular season and the postseason competitions, but the fact that the Tigers kept programs like Radcliffe, Bucknell, Georgetown and Central Florida behind them was a big motivating factor for them in the offseason. Also, the fact that Wisconsin was knocked off the top of the IRA medal stand is proof that there is no longer one dynasty in the quickly-growing sport of women's lightweight rowing.
Now Princeton has to find a way to make itself that team in 2011.
Growth during the season will be key, as Princeton will see neither Stanford or Bucknell after this weekend until postseason racing begins. However, that doesn't take any of the importance off the rest of the schedule, especially in meetings against Eastern rivals Georgetown and Radcliffe. Princeton will compete against both on the road; in fact, the Tigers' only home regatta will be next weekend against MIT and Bucknell.
Princeton did have a good showing in the fall, performing well at the Princeton Chase and falling only to Wisconsin at the Head of the Charles. The Tigers topped Radcliffe by nearly five seconds on its own course.
"We have had a pretty decent fall season," head coach Paul Rassam said after the Princeton Chase. "The team is certainly headed in the right direction. But our expectations are higher than last year and we have a ton of work to do if we are to meet our goals for the spring. It's time to go back to work."