Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Row360 Magazine
Eight Princeton Rowing Alumni Set To Compete In "The Boat Race" Sunday In England
March 31, 2022 | Heavyweight Rowing, Women's Rowing - Open, Women's Rowing - Lightweight
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A strong contingent of Princeton Rowing alumni consisting of eight alumni from the men's heavyweight, women's open weight and women's lightweight programs is set to compete in the annual regatta between Oxford and Cambridge on Sunday.
The eight Princetonians set to compete on Sunday give Princeton the most alumni competing in this year's regatta.
"I think having so many Princeton rowers in the race this year makes an already spectacular event that much more special," said Henry Evans '20, a member of Cambridge's reserve boat. "It's been great rowing with Seb and Tom again, and having three Tigers opposite in the Oxford crew adds an extra element of fun to the race. Particularly in light of how my last season at Princeton ended due to COVID, this year has felt like a long deferred conclusion to that 2020 spring. It has been a challenging year, both academically and athletically, but thanks to my time at Princeton I have always felt confident in my ability to get the job done. I certainly wouldn't be here without all the support of the Princeton academic community, the Department of History, and of course the rowing team. It's a testament to the kind of athletes and students that Princeton produces that there are eight Tigers in the races this year among so many world class athletes. I'm sure it will be a year to remember."
Known simply as "The Boat Race", the yearly battle on the Thames is one of the more cherished traditions in not just rowing but all of British sport. First contested on the men's side in 1829 and on the women's in 1927, The Boat Race is part-regatta and part reunion for rowing fans in the UK.
"It has been a really busy week- lots of rowing prep, chats and media events," said Erin Reelick '16, a member of Oxford's women's Blue Boat. "It has been a very different lead up to a race, nothing like the events I have raced at in the past! Not to mention I have finals due the Friday before. But it has been very nice getting to spend some time with the women (and Joe) of the blue boat. We are very ready and eager to get to the startline on Sunday!"
Contested on the Championship Course in West London, The Boat Race is a 4.25-mile grueling competition between the two crews with an estimated 200,000 fans lining the banks of the Thames.
Former Tiger rowers will be competing on both sides of the rivalry.
2020 Olympic bronze medalist Tom George '18 will row for Cambridge in its top crew - known as the "Blue Boat" to Boat Race fans - as he makes his Boat Race debut. A pair of 2020 graduates, Seb Benzecry and Henry Evans will row in Cambridge's reserve boat, Goldie. Benzecry rowed in Cambridge's Blue Boat in 2021, while Evans is making his Boat Race debut,
Three Tigers will row for Oxford in its reserve boat, named Isis. Marty Barakso '16, serves as President of Oxford's crew, and he will be joined in the reserve boat by Augustin Wambersie '18 and Tassilo Von Mueller '21. Barakso rowed in Oxford's Blue Boat in 2021, while Wambersie is competing in his fourth Boat Race event after three seats in a Blue Boat in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Two Princeton alumni will make their Boat Race debuts for Oxford in its women's Blue Boat. Reelick will row alongside Annie Anezakis '21. Reelick was a three-time Ivy champion for the women's open 1V and earned All-American honors in 2016. The last time Princeton fans saw Anezakis in action she was helping the women's lightweight program to an IRA national championship last year en route to All-American honors of her own.
A strong contingent of Princeton Rowing alumni consisting of eight alumni from the men's heavyweight, women's open weight and women's lightweight programs is set to compete in the annual regatta between Oxford and Cambridge on Sunday.
The eight Princetonians set to compete on Sunday give Princeton the most alumni competing in this year's regatta.
"I think having so many Princeton rowers in the race this year makes an already spectacular event that much more special," said Henry Evans '20, a member of Cambridge's reserve boat. "It's been great rowing with Seb and Tom again, and having three Tigers opposite in the Oxford crew adds an extra element of fun to the race. Particularly in light of how my last season at Princeton ended due to COVID, this year has felt like a long deferred conclusion to that 2020 spring. It has been a challenging year, both academically and athletically, but thanks to my time at Princeton I have always felt confident in my ability to get the job done. I certainly wouldn't be here without all the support of the Princeton academic community, the Department of History, and of course the rowing team. It's a testament to the kind of athletes and students that Princeton produces that there are eight Tigers in the races this year among so many world class athletes. I'm sure it will be a year to remember."
Known simply as "The Boat Race", the yearly battle on the Thames is one of the more cherished traditions in not just rowing but all of British sport. First contested on the men's side in 1829 and on the women's in 1927, The Boat Race is part-regatta and part reunion for rowing fans in the UK.
"It has been a really busy week- lots of rowing prep, chats and media events," said Erin Reelick '16, a member of Oxford's women's Blue Boat. "It has been a very different lead up to a race, nothing like the events I have raced at in the past! Not to mention I have finals due the Friday before. But it has been very nice getting to spend some time with the women (and Joe) of the blue boat. We are very ready and eager to get to the startline on Sunday!"
Contested on the Championship Course in West London, The Boat Race is a 4.25-mile grueling competition between the two crews with an estimated 200,000 fans lining the banks of the Thames.
Former Tiger rowers will be competing on both sides of the rivalry.
2020 Olympic bronze medalist Tom George '18 will row for Cambridge in its top crew - known as the "Blue Boat" to Boat Race fans - as he makes his Boat Race debut. A pair of 2020 graduates, Seb Benzecry and Henry Evans will row in Cambridge's reserve boat, Goldie. Benzecry rowed in Cambridge's Blue Boat in 2021, while Evans is making his Boat Race debut,
Three Tigers will row for Oxford in its reserve boat, named Isis. Marty Barakso '16, serves as President of Oxford's crew, and he will be joined in the reserve boat by Augustin Wambersie '18 and Tassilo Von Mueller '21. Barakso rowed in Oxford's Blue Boat in 2021, while Wambersie is competing in his fourth Boat Race event after three seats in a Blue Boat in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Two Princeton alumni will make their Boat Race debuts for Oxford in its women's Blue Boat. Reelick will row alongside Annie Anezakis '21. Reelick was a three-time Ivy champion for the women's open 1V and earned All-American honors in 2016. The last time Princeton fans saw Anezakis in action she was helping the women's lightweight program to an IRA national championship last year en route to All-American honors of her own.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing - Lightweight
Thursday, June 11
Tuesday, June 04
Wednesday, June 22
Monday, June 06