Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Senior Co-Captains Serve As Blueprint For Women's Lightweight Success
March 26, 2015 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
Women's lightweight coach Paul Rassam doesn't just believe in his captains. He'd like to clone them.
Senior Rebecca Kreutter walked on to the team with no rowing experience at all. Classmate Julia Wendt walked on with some, but was far from an elite-level rower ready to take the program to the next level.
Instead, they both found their passion in the boathouse, and they pushed it to the limits.
“Our captains are what it's all about,” Rassam said. “Each year, they have gotten better, gotten fitter. At this point, Becky is at an elite level physically. These two weren't blue chip recruits, but they have put in the work, and they have progressed every year.”
They are the ultimate mentors for a very young program, and they are in place at a perfect time for Princeton. Rassam sees one of the deepest collections of young talent during his time as head coach, and who better to embody the type of work it will take to bring Princeton back to the top of the sport?
“Becky and Julia are no strangers to hard work, which is evident in both their academic and athletic performances,” said junior Phoebe Huang, a member of Princeton's bronze medalist varsity eight last season. “Everyone on the team looks up to them as leaders who lead by example, training hard day in and day out while keeping healthy perspective and balance.
“They've done an amazing job of welcoming the newcomers to the team, both on and off the water, which is pretty evident in the kind of team culture they've been able to foster this year,” she added.
The underclassmen will make up a significant amount of the 1V and 2V boats this season. Several freshmen made a big impact last year, including Juliette Hackett, who Rassam believes is in position for an even bigger sophomore season.
“Juliette has made the adjustment to college,” he said. “She has been more healthy this year, and it has allowed her to have better training. She is fitter.”
The overall fitness level is as high as it has been in several years for Princeton, and that includes a freshman class that has made significant progress despite the limited water time.
“The freshman class is making a big difference,” Rassam said. “We have had talented walk-ons and complete novices develop nicely. It's an eager group of freshmen, and they are training well.”
Lake Carnegie has been a good training ground since it became available over the last two weeks, but it won't be a home course for Princeton this season. The schedule fell in a way that the Tigers will compete each weekend on the road, though they won't have to cross state lines for either Sprints (Cooper River) or IRAs (Mercer Lake).
Some would view it as a disadvantage, but Rassam has a different outlook.
“This is all upside for a young team,” he said. “They'll learn to adapt, and it will make them better for the big races.”
Ultimately, the biggest races are the ones that define your season, and he knows that Princeton needs to be more prepared than last season to deal with adversity. Whether it's an untimely illness or a tough lane assignment, Rassam is hopeful that his 2015 team will be ready to adjust and overcome.
The Tigers will get an early test this weekend, as they make their annual trip to California for the San Diego Crew Classic. Stanford and Boston University will be in the field, as will Villanova, which often battled Princeton for the IRA championship during the program's earliest days.
Below is a Q&A with junior Phoebe Huang:
1) You're from Lawrenceville, so was rowing at/attending Princeton a longtime goal of yours?
Going to high school and rowing just a few miles from Princeton was really inspirational. I had the incredible opportunity of being coached by both the 2009 lightweight women's captain, Madeline Davis '09, and Bill Golden '99, who both taught me so much about the work ethic and commitment it takes to succeed, as well as how to push for that extra gear in the final meters of a race. I feel honored to be part of such an inspiring tradition and legacy by rowing in their footsteps.
2) You were able to get back on the medal dock at Sprints last year. How important was that to your program's development, and was it something you felt like gave you momentum into the offseason?
Even though our 1v claimed bronze at last year's Sprints, we knew that we were capable of achieving so much more as a team, which has definitely been a huge motivating force in our training. We've used our past victories and disappointments to fuel our competitive fire, and it has really prepared us mentally and physically to go head to head with our rivals in these next few months.
3) Despite the challenges of not getting on the water until recently, were you pleased with the progress of the team over the last couple of months?
Our entire team did a really good job of staying focused and hungry indoors even as it seemed like the ice on Carnegie would never melt. Despite the potential for this year's long winter to derail our training, I think we've emerged stronger, faster, and that much hungrier for the spring racing season. Many of us have been seeing steady improvements in our erg times, with Becky Kreutter even breaking both 5k and 2k records for our lightweight team. I'm excited to see everyone take the base aerobic fitness we've gained to even higher levels on the water!
4) What was your biggest offseason goal in terms of your own development?
A big goal of mine during the winter was to increase my base speed and power endurance, which Paul has been emphasizing all year as a key foundation for success on the water. I knew that especially with the fast incoming freshman class, I would have to hold myself accountable for putting in the extra work to remain competitive within the team.
5) Becky Kreutter is in her second year as a captain for your team, and co-captain Julia Wendt was part of your V8 last season. What makes them such good leaders for a team with so much youth?
Becky and Julia are no strangers to hard work, which is evident in both their academic and athletic performances. Everyone on the team looks up to them as leaders who lead by example, training hard day in and day out while keeping healthy perspective and balance. They've done an amazing job of welcoming the newcomers to the team, both on and off the water, which is pretty evident in the kind of team culture they've been able to foster this year.
6) How have your incoming freshmen looked so far, and do you think there are a couple that could make an immediate impact on your Sprints chase this year?
This year's team is one of the strongest and deepest that the program has seen in a while, and the freshmen have been a huge part of that growth from day one. It's incredible how many of them have already made such a huge impact, not only competing for top spots in our varsity boat but also contributing to a championship-level team mentality. As our 1v coxswain, Megan Mirabella has already proven herself as a natural leader, while Grace Miles, Shelby Edmondson, Becca Singer, and Monica Gomez made up a very competitive four that held their own against more experienced crews at the Charles this past fall. Their willingness to work hard will definitely propel us towards our goals as we look towards Sprints.
7) Are you confident that, as your team develops chemistry, you have the type of talent to make a strong push for gold at Sprints/IRAs this year?
Paul and Hank have been saying to us for a long time now that this season represents our best opportunity in many years, and we're definitely starting to see that being confirmed now. As we transition back onto the water, I'm confident that we will build on our consistent training, discipline, and attention to detail to see the pay offs as we approach Sprints and IRAs.