Princeton University Athletics
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Trio Of Open Women's Boats Unite On Schuylkill To Compete For ?84 Plaque
April 24, 2015 | Women's Rowing - Open
CLASS OF 1984 PLAQUE HISTORY l NATIONAL POLL
The ultimate goal for the Princeton open rowing team, besides claiming a third straight Ivy League championship, is to be in Gold River, Calif., on May 31st with a chance to win an NCAA championship.
That title will require excellence from three boats, and each of those will be in competition this weekend on the Schuylkill River during the annual Class of 1984 Plaque regatta against Dartmouth and Penn. Unlike the other Cup competitions of the season, the '84 Plaque goes to the team with the best aggregate finish of the V8, 2V8 and V4.
“Every time the 1V wins a Cup race it in essence feels like a team win,” said sophomore Dagmara Lapins, a rower in the Tiger 2V this season. “That being said, it is definitely exciting to be able to directly contribute to a plaque contest; it adds an extra incentive to throw out all you have on the course to win.”
Princeton is ranked eighth in the latest USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division I, and it is drawing closer to the 2015 postseason with every race. Like its V8 counterparts, the 2V lost early-season races to both Brown and Virginia — each of whom is ranked in the Top 4 — but is coming off a close win over 10th-ranked Yale on the Housatonic River last weekend.
“As a boat we have been working on setting higher standards for ourselves every time we get on the water and as a result we are getting faster every week,” Lapins said. “Coming into the Yale race we were determined to win, especially in light of our losses against Brown and UVA. We knew that Yale was going to be fast and that they would give us a close race; it was exciting to see our hard work pay off.”
Lapins was a medalist in the V4 at the Ivy League Championships last year, and she would like to keep that trend going this season. The 2V would likely clinch the second seed at the Ivy Championships (May 18, Cooper River) with a win this weekend, and it would also provide seven points in the team race.
The varsity eight winner receives the most points during the morning (9 for first, 7 for second, 5 for third); the 2V (7-5-3) and the V4 (5-3-1) will also factor into the team competition.
While winning is always important, Princeton understands that it must keep building towards the postseason. With Brown establishing itself early as the favorite at the Ivy League Championships,
Princeton knows it will need an impressive résumé to earn an at-large bid to the Championships.
If they make it to California for that final weekend, though, they plan to be ready.
“At this point in time our team is focused on qualifying for NCAAs, but if we keep the trajectory that we have been on then I am confident that we could do well,” Lapins said. “Our team has great depth through all boats and all classes; the upperclassmen are great at setting standards and holding our team accountable for reaching them, and the freshman are providing the power that we need to succeed.”