HEAVY LIFTING: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight shows its form in a race this spring. Earlier this month, the top boat placed sixth in the Grand Final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta on Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Having coached in the Princeton University rowing program since the late 1990s, Greg Hughes boasts a reservoir of experience in bringing boats together.

But Hughes knew he had to be innovative this spring as he guided the Princeton men’s heavyweight crew, with the Tigers having graduated a number of key seniors and thereby breaking new faces into the lineup.

“It was an interesting year for me,” said Hughes, a former Princeton lightweight star rower who started as the coach for the Tiger freshman heavyweight crew before guiding the men’s lightweight program from 2006-09 and then taking the helm of the heavyweights in 2010.

“It was my 22nd year of coaching and what is so cool for me is to realize that you are still seeing new things and still learning. This was definitely one of those years.”

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DRAWING ON HER EXPERIENCE: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Elizabeth George, right, controls the draw as Princeton defeated visiting Wagner 19-7 last Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Two days later, senior star attacker George scored six goals to help the seventh-seeded Tigers defeat Loyola 17-13 in a second round contest. Princeton, now 16-3, will play at second-seeded Boston College, 20-1, in the NCAA quarterfinals on May 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Two years ago, a torrential downpour hit Class of 1952 Stadium as the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team hosted Cornell in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Princeton star Elizabeth George was undeterred by the conditions, scoring four goals, including the last two of the game, as the Tigers prevailed 11-9.

Last Sunday, a chilly downpour greeted the players as seventh-seeded Princeton hosted Loyola in a second round contest of this year’s NCAA tourney.

History repeated itself as senior attacker George thrived on the damp day, scoring six goals to help the Tigers earn a 17-13 win over the Greyhounds. By virtue of the triumph, Princeton, now 16-3 and riding an 11-game winning streak, will play at second-seeded Boston College, 20-1, in the NCAA quarterfinals on May 18. more

KICKING UP HER HEELS: Courtney Banghart instructs her players on the Princeton University women’s basketball team during a game last winter. Last week, Banghart decided to leave Princeton to become the new head coach of the University of North Carolina women’s hoops program. After building Princeton into a dominate force in the Ivy League, Banghart will be looking to help the Tar Heels produce a reversal of fortune as they are coming off an 18-15 season with former head coach Sylvia Hatchell retiring under fire. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In 2007, Courtney Banghart took the helm of a struggling Princeton University women’s basketball program that was at a crossroad after a mediocre 13-15 campaign.

The former Dartmouth star and assistant coach Banghart, then 29, brought energy, smarts, and toughness to the Tigers eventually turning Princeton into an Ivy League powerhouse.

After going 21-37 in her first two seasons, Banghart led the Tigers to an unprecedented success as they made the NCAA tournament in eight of the last 10 years, with seven automatic bids and the league’s only at-large bid by a men’s or women’s team, for a run that has never been matched in Ivy League women’s history and has been done just once on the men’s side (Penn won nine of 11 from 1970-80). more

SIX SHOOTERS: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Tess D’Orsi sprints upfield in recent action. Last Saturday, junior star D’Orsi tallied four goals and two assists to help Princeton defeat Cornell 18-15 in its regular season finale. The 10th-ranked Tigers improved to 12-3 overall and 6-1 Ivy with the win over the Big Red, earning their sixth straight league regular season title in the process. This weekend, Princeton heads to New York City for the Ivy postseason tournament where it is seeded first and will face fourth-seeded Cornell in a semifinal contest on Friday. The victor will advance to the title game on May 5 against the winner of the other semi between third-seeded Penn and second-seeded Dartmouth. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There was a chill in the air as the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team played at Cornell last Saturday in its regular season finale as snow showers hit Ithaca and the temperature hovered around 40.

Undeterred by the wintry conditions, Princeton got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 12-5 halftime lead.

“We were playing really well, we were winning the draws by a large margin in the first half and that allowed us to get those good possessions,” said Princeton head coach Chris Sailer. more

NEXT GENERATION: Princeton University baseball player Jake Boone takes a big cut in recent action. Last Sunday, sophomore shortstop Boone went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI in a losing cause as Princeton fell 11-5 to Brown. Boone, who comes from a long line of Major League players including his father (Bret), uncle (Aaron), grandfather (Bob), and great grandfather (Ray), is now hitting .308 with a team-high 48 hits. While the Tigers went 2-1 against Brown last weekend, the defeat eliminated them from a shot at the Ivy League Playoff Series. Princeton, now 13-23 overall and 8-10 Ivy, has a three-game set against St. John’s next weekend with a doubleheader in Jamaica, N.Y. on May 4 and a single game in Princeton on May 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jake Boone comes from an incredible baseball lineage as his father (Bret), uncle (Aaron), grandfather (Bob), and great grandfather (Ray) all enjoyed stellar Major League Baseball careers.

Upon graduating from Torrey Pines High in San Diego, Calif., in 2107, Boone had the chance to join the family business, getting selected in the 38th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals.

But Boone opted instead to attend Princeton University and join its baseball program. more

LEAPING INTO HISTORY: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Michael Sowers leaps into a shot in a recent game. Last Saturday, junior attackman Sowers tallied three goals and seven assists in Princeton’s 19-15 win over Harvard, tying Kevin Lowe for the program record for points with 247 in the process. The Tigers, now 7-6 overall and 2-3 Ivy League, play at Cornell on April 27, needing a win to stay alive in their bid to make the league postseason tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Michael Sowers doesn’t dwell on his glittering stats for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team but he does have a deep appreciation for the program’s storied past.

So last Saturday, when junior attacker Sowers tallied three goals and seven assists in Princeton’s 19-15 win over Harvard, tying Kevin Lowe  ’94 for the program record in career points with 247, his thoughts turned to the stars who came before him.

“To be mentioned in the same sentence as those guys is an unbelievable honor,” said Sowers, who needed just 41 games to pile up 98 goals and 149 assists to achieve the record while it took Lowe 60 to hit the mark.

“Those guys are the greatest to ever do it and they will always be the greatest for this program. What they did and those banners behind me, I don’t think that will ever be matched. So it is truly an honor.” more

SHINING LIGHTS: Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight shows its form in a race this spring. Second-ranked Princeton, now 8-1, hosts the Harvard and Yale on April 27 in the race for the Goldthwait/Vogel Cups. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Last spring, the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight crew ended up less than a second away from a national title.

Princeton placed second to Columbia at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta, clocking a time of 6:19.514 over the 2,000-meter course at Mercer Lake, just behind the 6:18.782 posted by the Lions.

With eight returning members of the top boat competing in the Henley Regatta last summer in England, the Tigers entered the 2018-19 school year primed to take the next step.

“There is a lot of excitement. With that extra month of rowing we got, we were really able to hit the ground running,” said Princeton head coach Marty Crotty. “September and October were that much more productive.” more

GO TIME: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Alex Argo, middle, guards the crease in a game last year. Last Saturday, senior defender Argo picked up two ground balls and had two caused turnovers to help Princeton defeat Harvard 14-12 as the program held its annual Senior Day celebration. The 10th-ranked Tigers, now 9-3 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, head to Philadelphia on April 17 for a clash with No. 12 Penn (9-3 overall, 3-1 Ivy) and then play at Yale (6-6 overall, 1-4 Ivy) on April 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Alex Argo hasn’t scored a point in her four seasons on the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team, but she has established herself as a key performer for the Tigers.

Starting on defense from her freshman campaign in 2016, Argo has been a steadying presence on the Princeton back line, gobbling up ground balls, causing turnovers, and directing traffic.

Along the way she has developed some deep bonds with her six classmates on the squad, who have all emerged as valuable contributors in their own right. more

HEAVY DUTY: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight churns through the water in a recent regatta. Last Saturday, Princeton’s top boat defeated Penn and Columbia at Overpeck Lake Park in Leonia, N.J., to earn the Childs Cup, the oldest collegiate rowing trophy. The seventh-ranked Tigers, now 4-0, host third-ranked Harvard on April 20 in the race for the Compton Cup. (Photo by Beverly Schaefer, provided courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Losing some senior stalwarts from its top boats due to graduation, the Princeton University men’s heavyweight rowing team entered this spring in a state of flux.

But with a group of returning veterans seizing opportunity, the proud program is on course for another superb campaign.

“So far it has been going well; we graduated some real talent and some significant role players,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes, whose top boat is 4-0 and ranked seventh nationally.

“Whenever that happens, there is an opportunity there and there are some roles that open up. It is an interesting time seeing how people step up. A lot of the guys might have been playing a more supporting role with those guys and now they are filling those shoes. It has been fun to watch, lots of guys have done a great job stepping up and seizing that opportunity.” more

WESTERN HERO: Princeton University baseball player Max West takes a cut in recent action. Senior catcher West had three hits in a losing cause as Princeton fell 2-1 to visiting Columbia last Sunday. The Tigers, now 6-18 overall and 3-6 Ivy League, host Seton Hall for a single game on April 10 and then head to Penn for a three-game set this weekend with a doubleheader slated for April 13 and a single game on April 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Max West has traveled an unusual route to stardom for the Princeton University baseball team.

After graduating from the Singapore American School, West served two and a half years as a combat diver and naval officer in the Singapore Navy. He then applied to U.S. colleges and ultimately decided to matriculate to Princeton, arriving in the fall of 2015.

“Initially coming to college as a 21-year-old freshman, I was older than everyone else and felt a little out of place,” said West.

“That has made my college experience much more valuable. I was definitely more mature at 21 than I was at 18. Spending that time back home in the military has allowed me to get the most out of this experience here at Princeton.” more

MAC ATTACK: Princeton University softball player Mackenzie Meyer takes a swing in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore outfielder Meyer with 3-for-4 with a homer, double, three runs scored, and three RBIs to help Princeton defeat Columbia 11-5 in the opener of a three-game set between the foes. The Lions rebounded to sweep a doubleheader a day later, edging Princeton 2-1 and 5-4. The Tigers, now 6-15 overall and 3-3 Ivy League, host a doubleheader against Rider on April 3 before heading to Brown this weekend for a three-game set with a doubleheader slated for April 6 and a single game on April 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mackenzie Meyer came into last weekend mired in a batting slump as the Princeton University softball team hosted Columbia for a three-game set.

The Princeton sophomore outfielder had gone 2-for-17 in her previous six games as her batting average dipped to .175.

But with Princeton trailing Columbia 2-0 in the second inning last Friday afternoon, Meyer found her stoke blasting a homer over the right field fence.

“The first pitch was high and outside and my swing was a little late,” said Meyer, a 5’8 native of Lakewood Ranch, Fla. reflecting on her at-bat.

“She pitched me the same pitch the next one and I said ‘I don’t want to sit back and let it be a strike,’ so I just swung. When I hit it, it was, shoot, this could go out.” more

By Bill Alden

After pulling out a dramatic 14-13 win over No. 9 Denver University to start the week, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team picked up where it left off as it hosted Brown last Saturday afternoon.

Princeton jumped out to a 4-0 lead as Alexander Vardaro, Emmet Cordrey, Philip Robertson, and Michael Sowers all found the back of the net in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

But things went downhill from there for the Tigers in the critical Ivy League clash. The Bears outscored Princeton 6-1 over the rest of the half to forge ahead 6-5 at intermission.

Brown extended its lead to 8-6 early in the third quarter before senior attacker Cordrey scored two straight goals to make it 8-8. The Bears responded with a 6-1 run to pull away to a 14-10 win. more

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Bill Tierney stalks the sidelines last week as he guided his Denver University men’s lacrosse team against Princeton. It marked the return of the legendary former Tiger head coach for his first game at Class of 1952 Stadium since he left the Tiger program in 2009 after 22 seasons and six NCAA titles. Princeton, though, made it a tough homecoming for Tierney, pulling out a 14-13 win over the ninth-ranked Pioneers. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Bill Tierney didn’t get the chance to hone in on his Denver University men’s lacrosse team as it went through its pregame paces before its contest at Princeton last week.

With legendary former Princeton head coach Tierney returning on March 26 for his first game at Class of 1952 Stadium since he left the program in 2009 after guiding the Tigers to six NCAA titles in 22 seasons, the warmup turned into an extended meet and greet session.

Wearing a crimson and white Denver ball cap and Oakley sunglasses, the silver haired Tierney, 66, grinned broadly as he chatted with former colleagues on the field, shook hands with old friends, and responded to well wishes shouted from supporters in the stands. more