Princeton University Athletics
Five Finalists Named For Class Of 1916 Cup
May 20, 2025 | General, Men's Fencing, Women's Rowing - Open, Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's Rowing - Lightweight, Women's Rugby
Five Princeton student-athletes have been named finalists for the Class of 1916 Cup, which is presented annually to the Princeton varsity letterwinner who has achieved the highest academic standing at graduation. The award was given by the Class of 1916 on the occasion of its 50th reunion.
The Class of 1916 Cup will be presented at the Gary Walters '67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 22nd. For more information on the 2025 banquet, click here.
Meet the 2025 finalists!
NATHALIE BARNES | WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Nathalie Barnes is a diver for Princeton women's swimming and diving. During her time at Princeton, the Tigers were ranked as high as Top-25 in the country while capturing three consecutive Ivy League Championships.
On campus, Barnes was highly dedicated to the arts. She volunteered as Production Manager for the BodyHype Dance Company, in addition to filming and photographing performances for the Lewis Center for the Arts. Barnes also captured stories as a documentary filmmaker for the Trenton Project, an initiative that explores art as a way to amplify voices and empower neighboring communities.
From Aliso Viejo, Calif., Barnes is pursuing a degree in African American studies with certificates in film and gender and sexuality studies.
ANNA CORNELISSEN | WOMEN'S OPEN ROWING
Anna Cornelissen has been a steady force for Princeton open rowing, guiding the Tigers' Varsity Four boats throughout her career. The program captured four consecutive Ivy League titles during her career, while Cornelissen helped the varsity Four C to gold at the 2025 Ivy League Championships.
SOFIE GROUWS | WOMEN'S RUGBY
Sofie Grouws is a two-time NIRA All-Academic honoree for Princeton women's rugby. As a senior captain, she has been instrumental in shaping team culture and helping the Tigers earn their historic first varsity 15's victories over Bowdoin and Mount St. May's this past fall.
Off the pitch, Grouws was a Shapiro Prize recipient, which recognizes the top three percent of underclassmen for academic excellence. She served on the Princeton student events committee, and provided support and helped mentor Princeton students as an Undergraduate Associate for the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies.
From Decorah, Iowa, Grouws is an economics major pursuing a certificate in statistics and machine learning.
NICHOLAS LAWSON | MEN'S FENCING
Nicholas Lawson is two-time NCAA All-American for Princeton men's fencing. He helped the Tigers to back-to-back Ivy League titles in 2024 and 2025, and has finished as high as second at the NCAA championships. Lawson has also competed for the U.S. Fencing National Team throughout his career.
On campus, Lawson has conducted research in the Princeton Laboratory for the Physics of Life. In recognition of his academic contributions, Lawson was awarded the Princeton Physics Department's Manfred Pyka Memorial Prize and Allen G. Shenstone Prize, given to physics students who have shown excellence in their course work and promise in independent research.
Lawson is also a finalist for the William Winston Roper Trophy, honoring the top senior athlete from a men's program (click here). From, New York, N.Y., Lawson is a physics major specializing in biophysics.
CAROLINE ZHAO | MEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING
Caroline Zhao has helped pace the Princeton men's lightweight rowing team as coxswain of the 4th varsity boat. During a historic 2023 season, the Tigers won the IRA National Championship after racing to an Ivy League title and Eastern Sprints Championship.
Zhao has volunteered with the Special Olympics as part of their partnership with Princeton Rowing, and supported undergraduate students within her major as President of the Princeton Engineering Council. A two-time Shapiro Prize recipient, Zhao was also one of two students awarded the George B. Wood Legacy Prize, in recognition of exceptional academic achievement during their junior year.
A Westfield, N.J. native, Zhao is majoring in chemical and biological engineering with certificates in computer science and finance.
The Class of 1916 Cup will be presented at the Gary Walters '67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 22nd. For more information on the 2025 banquet, click here.
Meet the 2025 finalists!
NATHALIE BARNES | WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Nathalie Barnes is a diver for Princeton women's swimming and diving. During her time at Princeton, the Tigers were ranked as high as Top-25 in the country while capturing three consecutive Ivy League Championships.
On campus, Barnes was highly dedicated to the arts. She volunteered as Production Manager for the BodyHype Dance Company, in addition to filming and photographing performances for the Lewis Center for the Arts. Barnes also captured stories as a documentary filmmaker for the Trenton Project, an initiative that explores art as a way to amplify voices and empower neighboring communities.
From Aliso Viejo, Calif., Barnes is pursuing a degree in African American studies with certificates in film and gender and sexuality studies.
ANNA CORNELISSEN | WOMEN'S OPEN ROWING
Anna Cornelissen has been a steady force for Princeton open rowing, guiding the Tigers' Varsity Four boats throughout her career. The program captured four consecutive Ivy League titles during her career, while Cornelissen helped the varsity Four C to gold at the 2025 Ivy League Championships.
Cornelissen received an early induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was a Shapiro Prize recipient. She received the 2nd place Junior Prize from the Economics department based on departmental coursework and outstanding junior independent work. She also wrote for the Daily Princetonian, led team building activities as an Outdoor Action Leader and mentored other undergraduate students as a Residential College Advisor for Rockefeller College."
Cornelissen is an economics major from Providence, R.I. pursuing certificates in environmental studies and political economy.
SOFIE GROUWS | WOMEN'S RUGBY
Sofie Grouws is a two-time NIRA All-Academic honoree for Princeton women's rugby. As a senior captain, she has been instrumental in shaping team culture and helping the Tigers earn their historic first varsity 15's victories over Bowdoin and Mount St. May's this past fall.
Off the pitch, Grouws was a Shapiro Prize recipient, which recognizes the top three percent of underclassmen for academic excellence. She served on the Princeton student events committee, and provided support and helped mentor Princeton students as an Undergraduate Associate for the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies.
From Decorah, Iowa, Grouws is an economics major pursuing a certificate in statistics and machine learning.
NICHOLAS LAWSON | MEN'S FENCING
Nicholas Lawson is two-time NCAA All-American for Princeton men's fencing. He helped the Tigers to back-to-back Ivy League titles in 2024 and 2025, and has finished as high as second at the NCAA championships. Lawson has also competed for the U.S. Fencing National Team throughout his career.
On campus, Lawson has conducted research in the Princeton Laboratory for the Physics of Life. In recognition of his academic contributions, Lawson was awarded the Princeton Physics Department's Manfred Pyka Memorial Prize and Allen G. Shenstone Prize, given to physics students who have shown excellence in their course work and promise in independent research.
Lawson is also a finalist for the William Winston Roper Trophy, honoring the top senior athlete from a men's program (click here). From, New York, N.Y., Lawson is a physics major specializing in biophysics.
CAROLINE ZHAO | MEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING
Caroline Zhao has helped pace the Princeton men's lightweight rowing team as coxswain of the 4th varsity boat. During a historic 2023 season, the Tigers won the IRA National Championship after racing to an Ivy League title and Eastern Sprints Championship.
Zhao has volunteered with the Special Olympics as part of their partnership with Princeton Rowing, and supported undergraduate students within her major as President of the Princeton Engineering Council. A two-time Shapiro Prize recipient, Zhao was also one of two students awarded the George B. Wood Legacy Prize, in recognition of exceptional academic achievement during their junior year.
A Westfield, N.J. native, Zhao is majoring in chemical and biological engineering with certificates in computer science and finance.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Rowing - Open
Utility Back
/ Women's Rugby
E
/ Men's Fencing
/ Men's Rowing - Lightweight
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