As Men's Lightweight Season Opener Draws Near, Meet The Newest Class Of Princeton Rowers

The 2018 Princeton men's lightweight season opens this weekend with a pair of Cup races in both Annapolis and Washington, D.C., and it will give head coach Marty Crotty his first chance to see his freshmen compete in the spring racing season. Four members of the Princeton Class of 2021 were in the two Tiger boats that placed in the Top 6 at the Head of the Charles last fall, including the duo of Sydney Edwards and David Slear, who both coxed and stroke the top Tiger boat to a gold.

You can learn more about the Princeton Class of 2021 below.

Sam Breckenridge
Geneva, Switzerland • International School of Geneva

Before Princeton — won the 2017 Swiss championship in the lightweight men's pair … earned silver at the 2016 Swiss Championships in the junior pair … took fourth in the junior men's four at the 2016 Coupe de la Jeunesse … placed 13^th in the junior pair at the 2016 European Junior Championships … rowed for the Societe Nautique de Geneve.

Personal — born Oct. 2, 1998 … son of Lee Ann Jackson '88 and John Breckenridge; mother rowed for the Princeton open rowing team … has a younger brother Christopher … enjoys basketball, ping pong, and playing the violin … considering studying engineering at Princeton.

Matthew Butler
Whakatane, N.Z. • St. Peter's School

Before Princeton — won bronze in the U-19 double sculls at the 2017 New Zealand Club Championships … won silver in the boys lightweight double sculls at the 2016 New Zealand Secondary School Championships … won gold in the U-17 double and quadruple sculls at the 2015 New Zealand Secondary School Championships … won bronze in the double sculls at the 2015 New Zealand Club Championships … St. Peter's Sports Prefect … Academic Honors Badge recipient.

Personal — born June 26, 1998 … son of Maurice and Lee-Anne Butler … has a younger sister Amy … enjoys hunting, fishing and time on the farm … planning to study economics.

Jonathan Carr
Phoenix, Ariz. • Brophy College Prep

Before Princeton — won bronze in the men's 4x at the 2016 Youth Nationals … three-year letterwinner and team award recipient at Brophy College Prep … National Honor Society member.

Personal — born June 25, 1999 … son of Patrick and Christine Carr … enjoys cycling, running, and reading.

Sydney Edwards
Sarasota, Fla. • Pine View School

Before Princeton — first woman ever to cox a men's boat in international competition for the USA; won silver with the M8+ at the 2017 Junior World Championships … placed fifth in the W8+ at the 2016 Junior World Championships … won gold at the 2015 CanAmMex regatta … led Sarasota Crew to six straight state championships … won bronze at the 2016 USRowing Nationals in the men's varsity 8+ … won gold in the men's youth 4+ at the 2014 Head of the Charles.

Personal — born Sept. 16, 1999 … daughter of Sherry and Mike Edwards … has an older brother Nick, a rower at Columbia University … enjoys yoga, off-shore fishing, and running … considering studying economics or cognitive science/psychology.

Marcus Jonas
London, Eng. • Ashcroft Technology Academy

Before Princeton — won silver in the Open Junior 8x at the British Rowing Junior Championships … won two golds at the 2016 Coupe de la Jeunesse for Great Britain in the JM4- … won bronze for G.B. in the JM2- at the 2016 Munich International Regatta … won Open Junior single scull at the 2017 British Junior Rowing Championship … reached Friday session at the Henley Royal Regatta … served as captain for two years with Tideway Scullers School … earned Player's Player Award three years in a row in soccer … Head of Student Council.

Before Princeton — born Dec. 7, 1998 … son of Lloyd and Kerstin Jonas … has an older brother Oliver and a younger brother Alex; Oliver rowed at the Junior World Championships … enjoys guitar, music, and football (soccer) … plans to study mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Gianni Pompili
San Anselmo, Calif. • Sir Francis Drake

Before Princeton — won bronze in the lightweight 8+ at both the 2015 and 2017 Youth Nationals … won silver at the men's youth 8+ at the 2016 Youth National Championships … won gold at the 2015 Head of the Charles in the men's youth 8+.

Personal — born June 30, 1998 … son of Jerry Pompili and Nancy Taylor … has a younger brother Nicco … enjoys playing the guitar, traveling, and skiing … undecided on course of study at Princeton.

Tyler Skow
London, England • American School of London

Before Princeton — won gold medal in the j16 1x at the 2015 National Schools Regatta … won silver in the championship 1x at the 2017 National Schools Regatta; also took sixth in the championship 2x at the same event … two-time recipient of the Performance Award (2015, 2016) … rowed for Great Britain at the 2017 Coupe de la Jeunesse … raced in the Fawley Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta … also competed in track & field … awarded both the Stephen L. Eckard Award for character, commitment and service, as well as the William Harris Award for outstanding achievement in athletics and academics, at the American School … editor in chief of school newspaper.

Personal — born March 21, 1999 … son of Tracy Edmonson and Wesley Skow … has an older brother Peter and a younger brother Andrew … enjoys writing and working for the newspaper … undecided on course of study at Princeton.

David Slear
Dallas, Texas • Highland Park

Before Princeton — rowed in the U.S. Junior 4- in the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships … two-year team captain for Highland Park.

Personal — born June 10, 1999 … son of Dave and Julie Slear … has an older sister Alex and a younger brother Matthew … considering studying computer science at Princeton.

Alex Williams
London, Eng. • Westminster School

Before Princeton — won five national championship gold medals in various boats from the U14 through U18 age ranges … earned gold in the JM2- at the 2016 Coupe de la Jeunesse.

Personal — born July 18, 1998 … son of Sean and Anne-Marie Williams … has three siblings: Nicholas, Helena and Edward … enjoys music and ping-pong … considering studying computer science and/or physics at Princeton.

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