Princeton University Athletics
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Two-Time Ivy Champ Open Women Look Towards Big Spring Gains ? Again
March 26, 2015 | Women's Rowing - Open
This isn't particularly new territory for the Princeton open rowing team, and there is precedent for it ending successfully, but it also doesn't make it any more enjoyable for head coach Lori Dauphiny.
For the second straight year, an incredible winter has caused havoc to the preseason training schedule for the Tigers. One year ago, it was nearly record-breaking snowfall; this winter, especially February, was about a deep freeze unlike any in these parts in quite some time. Both years, Lake Carnegie was unavailable to Princeton, ranked eighth in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association preseason poll, for much longer than the team would have hoped.
Dauphiny, the ultra-successful Princeton head coach, accepted the fact last season that her team might look far different in late April than it would in late March. It doesn't make late March very easy — or late April, for that matter — but by mid-May, Princeton had rounded into form.
And that form was good enough to retain the Ivy League championship at the expense of the top-ranked boat in the nation (Brown).
So, yes, there is precedent. It obviously doesn't guarantee anything, but it's something to keep in mind if the first couple weeks are a struggle.
Princeton will also have to deal with the loss of five members of its Ivy champion varsity eight from last season, including All-America honorees Kelsey Reelick and Angie Gould. The Tigers do return one All-America in senior co-captain Faith Richardson, the lone senior who returns from that top boat.
“Faith is a real workhorse with very high expectations, but she is also a very supportive teammate,” Dauphiny said. “Classmate Nicki Byl is also a co-captain, and she has also provided a lot of support for her teammates.”
While Richardson was the only member of the Class of 2015 to be in the V8 last season, there were several classmates who joined her at the NCAA Championships. The 2V had an undefeated regular season — its second in a row — and after a disappointing finish at Ivies, they bounced back in style with a thrilling silver medal at the NCAA Championships.
“They have been working hard,” Dauphiny said of that group, which included Byl. “They're definitely in the fight.”
The fight has always been what makes Princeton so tough. The 2000-meter battles on Saturday mornings are only part of the competition that goes on throughout the spring in the boathouse. Princeton is one of three programs to reach the NCAA Championships every year since 1997, so depth has consistently been a strength in the program.
Depth creates competition. Competition creates speed. Speed creates champions.
Dauphiny understands that the speed may take longer to fully develop, and considering Princeton will face three Top-6 programs (Virginia, Brown, Michigan) over its first three races, that delay could make for a bumpy journey.
But Princeton has dealt with bumps before. It is the perseverance through the journey, and the level of competition within the Ivy League, that could make Princeton a real threat once again when May rolls around.
“The team really rallied indoors, and they kept a positive attitude,” Dauphiny said. “We have a pretty young group overall, but the people who are back have been good leaders, and they have set a good tone.
“Our league will be one of the strongest nationally, and we'll also race some of the toughest teams in other leagues,” she added. “There will be a lot of challenges, but it will be exciting, and it will make us stronger by May.”
SATURDAY RACING SCHEDULE
Heavyweight Men vs. Georgetown
8:00 AM - First Varsity
8:15 AM - Second Varsity
8:30 AM - Third/Fourth/Fifth Varsity
Open Women vs. Brown & Michigan
9:00 AM - B Four
9:20 AM - Third Varsity
9:40 AM - A Four
10:00 AM - Second Varsity
10:20 AM - First Varsity - Class of 1987 Trophy
Lightweight Men vs. Georgetown
11:00 AM - Fourth Varsity
11:15 AM - Third Varsity
11:30 AM - Second Varsity
11:45 AM - First Varsity - Fosburgh Cup
Lightweight Women at San Diego Crew Classic
Saturday preliminary, Sunday final
Sophomore Meghan Wheeler rowed in the 4 seat for Princeton when the Tigers took down top-ranked Brown for the 2014 Ivy League championship. Now an upperclassman, Wheeler is hoping to enjoy that same moment this spring, and hopefully add a special finish at the NCAA Championships. In this Q&A, Wheeler discusses the journey from the highs and lows of the 2014 postseason to the final days before competition begins in 2015.
1) You had the high of winning Ivies last year and the low of barely missing out on the NCAA 1V grand final. Could you use both memories as motivation to fuel your offseason?
Winning Ivies last year was the result of a long and hard season, where a team we had to fight every week to find improvement and more speed. I think that experience stuck with a lot of people in terms of knowing that we can not be complacent with how we are doing, and it showed us that we are capable of making big changes over the course of a season. So taking that lesson from Ivies, combined with the fuel from missing out on the grand final at NCAAs last year, we have lots of memories from last year motivating us as we get ready to race soon.
2) What was your biggest personal goal over the offseason, and were you satisfied with the progress?
A big personal goal I had for winter training was to keep a positive attitude and team-oriented
mentality, since during the winter it is easy to start thinking about things individually. It's just you on the erg competing against your teammates every day, and it is always important for everyone to keep in mind that we are a team and soon we will be racing together against strong competition. Anyone's success in the winter means success for the whole team, so keeping that mentality present throughout the team during winter training is important. Now that winter training is over, I think that we did a really good job of staying positive and being excited for each other's accomplishments while indoors.
3) Without being able to get out on the water, have you been happy with the team's progress during the preseason?
I think everyone really pushed themselves through winter training, which was tough and long this year! Lot's of people were able to see improvements in their personal scores from last year, and a few freshmen really took off on the erg. The progress we made during the winter both in terms of fitness and technique was solid, and I think that everyone feels ready to apply it to their rowing on the water.
4) Your captain, Faith Richardson, is also the lone returning senior from the Ivy champion V8. What makes her a good captain for this group, and what are her best traits in the boat?
Faith believes in hard work, and she leads by example. She had been an incredible leader and I think she has really pushed people to test their limits and make sure we are doing everything personally possible to do our best. Her ethic translates to the boat- she will pull hard and fight with everything no matter the situation. You know that with Faith in the boat, she has your back and will never let up. And I think as a captain this year she is showing everyone that that concept is what the team is about- fighting with all you got, no matter what.
5) There are a number of returners from the rest of the NCAA team, especially in the 2V that won silver at NCAAs. How important is the strong competition within the boathouse for developing another championship team?
Competition within the team is incredibly motivating, especially in the winter. There are a lot of people gunning to improve on their individual performances, whether from this fall or last spring, and I think the environment is pushing everyone to do their best. For the whole team, it is exciting to see people pushing for higher personal goals. Competition within the boathouse teaches everyone how to fight with all they have for a spot in a boat, or position in a ranking, and since fight is what championship teams need to win, being able to use it in situations outside of spring racing is huge.
6) What have been your early impressions of the freshman class, both in talent and work ethic?
I think that the freshman class came in with loads of potential, and they really tapped into it during winter training. As a class they are really close with one another and get along well, which is exciting to see. They are really dedicated and have stepped up to the plate to be big contributors come spring. I think that overall they are an incredibly talented class, and I can't wait to see them continue to push themselves and improve even more!
7) Knowing how long the winter has been for you, how much are you looking forward to getting out on the water and getting the season started in a couple of weeks?
We can't wait to get back on the water and start racing! Winter has been productive and has been a really strong time to see individual improvement on the erg and in the weight room, but nothing beats being on the water with the team. We have been gunning to race all winter and are excited to make big steps on the water!