Players Mentioned
Men's Lightweight Freshman Duo Excited For Test v. Reigning Champ Cornell
April 14, 2016 | Men's Rowing - Lightweight
MORE LINKS: PLATT CUP HISTORY l NATIONAL POLL
Jordi Cabanas and Danny Hogan were highly touted recruits who Marty Crotty believed could impact his top lightweight boat fairly quickly in their careers.
As it turned out, they impacted the boat immediately. The duo has been part of the varsity eight from Day 1 this season, and they both have done an impressive job of developing while also adjusting to their first year of Princeton life.
“The most challenging transition for me was coming to terms with the high level of competition within the league,” Hogan said. “Everyone is biting at each other's heels and if you let up, you will be quickly left behind. Keeping this in mind helped with training over the winter season, since it was my first time staying indoors for an extended period of time (the Oakland Estuary doesn't freeze).
“I thought the team has helped me with my transition,” he added. “Everyone loves to work hard and quickly taught me to never be complacent with where I stand, that I always need to keep pushing forward.”
While some of those lessons come through their own competitive drive and rowing history, they are also teamed with a number of upperclassmen who have been through the battles in the ultra-competitive lightweight league.
“Once piece of advice I received from junior Will Van Cleve was to never underestimate anybody in this league,” Cabanas said. “After just a few races I've seen how fierce the competition can be. If we as a crew have an off day, we are vulnerable to any other program in the league. As we gear up to race Cornell this weekend, that piece of advice will really come into play. It's no easy task taking down the reigning national champions.”
But that is the goal this weekend, as Princeton turns its focus on the two-time defending national champion during its annual Platt Cup weekend. The Tigers hold an overall 36-16 advantage in the series, but Cornell has won each of the last four, including a competitive race on the Cayuga last year that Cornell won by just over three seconds.
Cabanas and Hogan may not have experienced that race, but they do know what it's like to battle the top-ranked boat in the country. That honor currently belongs to Columbia, which handed the Tigers their lone loss of the season two weeks ago.
“In the Columbia race we learned that you have to race smart as well as hard,” Cabanas said. “This week we have been tightening up our technique hoping to eek out as much 'free speed' as we can out of each stroke. Since everyone weighs the same, it really comes down to who can use your strength most effectively. We built on that theme last week and hopefully we can make more gains this week.”
Princeton also got its first chance to race at home last weekend, and it made the most of it with strong wins over both Dartmouth and Delaware. While neither of those boats is ranked among the top five, it was still a positive way to head into Platt Cup weekend.
And for the two freshmen, it is their first opportunity to truly test themselves at home against one of the top-tier programs.
“This weekend is a great chance for us to get a crack at a very talented crew,” Hogan said. “I have always looked forward to big showdowns with fantastic competition and Cornell definitely fits that mold. While we still have our minds set on championship racing, it is important to still focus on one race at a time and we will not be one's to squander this opportunity.”
APRIL 16 HOME SCHEDULE (all available on the Ivy League Digital Network)
Princeton Open Women vs. Yale, USC
9:00 • Third Varsity
9:20 • Varsity A4/B4
9:40 • Second Varsity
10:00 • First Varsity - Eisenberg Cup
Princeton Lightweight Men vs. Cornell
10:15 • Fifth & Sixth Varsity
10:30 • Fourth Varsity
10:45 • Third Varsity
11:00 • Second Varsity
11:15 • First Varsity - Platt Cup