Princeton University
EAWRC Sprints
Players Mentioned
Women's Lights Dethrone Wisconsin, Claim First EAWRC Gold Since 2003
May 15, 2011 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
Head coach Paul Rassam saw something different in this Princeton women's lightweight crew from preseason through a perfect regular season. Now he sees something new on his lightweight crew - an EAWRC gold medal.
Following a perfect 8-0 regular season and the national top ranking in every collegiate poll after the opening weekend, Princeton earned its first EAWRC title since 2003 in record-setting fashion and its sixth overall with a nearly four-second victory over reigning champion Wisconsin in Sunday's grand final on Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J.
"All I can say is 'Finally!' ," a jubilant and relieved Rassam said afterwards. "It's hard to put it into words, but my heart almost leapt out of my chest when I saw them get first."
Rassam's senior-laden varsity eight won the grand final in 6:30.39, an EAWRC course record, while second-seeded Wisconsin took second in 6:34.14. Radcliffe finished third in 6:41.59 to round out the medal stand.
"I have no idea how it unfolded, but I think we got an early lead and built on it," Rassam said right after the race. "Wisconsin made a move on us, but we held it off. It was a veteran group for sure, but still there is nobody in that boat that ever led at Eastern Sprints, so you never know how they'll handle it."
It was a medal stand Princeton proudly reached last season, but it even more proudly stands atop of following the 2011 championship regatta.
The second lightweight eight held off Bucknell by just over one second to earn a spot on the medal stand. The 2V8, which had gone 4-2 on the season, fell in the final to the only two boats it lost to during the season. Wisconsin won the final in 6:50.08, while Radcliffe placed second in 7:01.69. Princeton claimed the bronze in 7:08.21.
The finish was made all the more impressive considering a late lineup change that forced the 2V to find a new chemistry.
"The 2V did an amazing job being ready," Rassam said. "Coach Katie Bitz did a great job getting them ready. I'm so impressed with how both boats came out today ready to race."
Rassam and his lightweight eight will look for a postseason double in three weeks when the IRA national championships come to Cooper River. Many of the same teams will be back in this field, as will reigning national champion Stanford; Princeton topped the Cardinal by more than 10 seconds in the season-opening weekend.
Varsity 8 Grand Final
1) Princeton - 6:30.39
2) Wisconsin - 6:34.14
3) Radcliffe - 6:41. 59
4) Bucknell - 6:49.00
5) Georgetown - 6:51.76
6) MIT - 7:03.68
Second Varsity 8 Grand Final
1) Wisconsin - 6:50.08
2) Radcliffe - 7:01.69
3) Princeton - 7:08.21
4) Bucknell - 7:09.26
5) MIT - 7:33.97
V8 lineup
C-Yuna Sakuma
S-Michaela Glaeser
7-Alex Morss
6-Emily Clonts
5-Emma Bedard
4-Lauren Sykora
3-Caroline Clark
2-Kathryn O'Connell
B-Elena Martinez
2V8 lineup
C- Eden FullS- Maggie Stroebel
7- Olivia Panaccio Tresham
6- Grace Riccardi
5- Ali Goedecke
4- Lauren Castro
3- Taylor Nelson
2- Madigan Stanley
B- Julia Trehu