Senior Cox Flavin Faces Pressure Head-On, Helping PU Open Crew Place 4th at NCAAs
When Lila Flavin reflects on her Princeton University career, one of the major lessons that comes to her mind centers on mental toughness.
“I think what they say about Princeton is that they have a lot of fight,” said Flavin. “I think I had it going in but I think I have learned how to use it and how to handle moments of pressure.”
Last weekend, Flavin, the senior coxswain for the Princeton University women’s open crew varsity 8, came through with aplomb under pressure as the Tigers competed in the NCAA Championships at nearby Mercer Lake.
On Friday, the native of Cambridge, Mass. piloted the Tigers to a second place in their opening heat as they qualified for the semifinals. A day later, she guided the boat to a second place finish, helping Princeton emerge as one of only three programs in the 16-school competition to send boats to all three Grand Finals.
With a national title on the line in Sunday’s racing, Flavin and the Tigers fought valiantly but came up short as they placed fourth in 6:25.90 over the 2,000-meter course, 7.18 seconds behind winner Virginia and a mere 0.84 behind third-place finisher USC.
With the varsity 4 taking fifth and the second varsity 8 placing fourth, the Tigers ended up fourth overall in the team standings at the regatta.
While Flavin would have liked to have seen her boat take home a title, she had no qualms with how it battled.
“We were just real excited to make the final; we had no idea how it was going to go,” said Flavin.
“The national championship is a whole different league. I think we just went out there to have the best race we could possibly have. We fought really hard. They [USC] just snuck by us but we are happy with it.”
Flavin is happy with how the boat progressed this spring as it bounced back from early season losses to Michigan and USC.
“With this season, I am just going to think about how much we have grown throughout the year,” said Flavin.
“We came in really rough and not really sure of ourselves and we came out really confident and stronger. I will remember that progression.”
For Flavin, guiding the varsity 8 to a national title in 2011 is something that has left an indelible memory. “I will never forget that,” said Flavin. “I learned a lot about what it takes to be at the top and be the best.”
Working with her classmates has helped Flavin learn what it takes to get through the rough times that come with pursuing championships.
“There are not very many of us but we have really had a lot of character and we have helped to keep the team together,” said Flavin.
“I think with any sport, there is a ton of ups and downs. There are a lot of bad days when you don’t want to be there but that’s when it counts. I think we have tried to channel that as seniors.”
Princeton head coach Lori Dauphiny credits Flavin and her classmates with being a steadying force at the boathouse.
“It is a small class but they have a big presence,” said Dauphiny. “This year there was a senior in every boat. Lila, in particular, as a coxswain and having been in that national championship boat last year knows what it takes and she holds them to high standards.”
The Tigers lived up to their high standards on Saturday when they came out of the semifinals with boats in all three grand finals.
“Yesterday was a great day for us in ways that exceeded expectations,” said Dauphiny.
“I wasn’t sure that all three boats were going to make the final. Everyone really stepped up. We worked very hard between the [Ivy] Sprints and the national championship to make it happen.”
Although the varsity 8 didn’t repeat as national champions, Dauphiny liked the way the boat worked on Sunday.
“I thought it was great; I think they are slightly disappointed,” said Dauphiny.
“If you look at our season and where we were compared to those folks in the regular season, we have increased in speed. In the beginning of the season, we lost to Michigan by open water and we also lost to USC. This time around, we were within seconds and tenths of seconds of the top competition. So they were fierce competitors and great racers; I thought our effort was very courageous.”
Dauphiny saw courage in the efforts she got from the varsity 4 and the second varsity 8.
“I thought they did an outstanding job as well,” added Dauphiny. “In the 4, it was a tight field and I think they had some little disappointment as well. They raced hard and I think they improved through the season as well. The 2V is heart-stopping in every race, they basically have taken years off my life. They always come from behind. They are always down off the start and then they slowly work their way back in so I think they are a very confident group.”
With Princeton having now placed in the Top 4 at the last four NCAA regattas, Dauphiny is confident that the Tigers are headed in the right direction.
“I think that shows that we are really building depth,” asserted Dauphiny, who is in her 16th year at the helm of the program.
“In the past, that was something that we struggled with. This year, putting all boats in the finals was one of our goals. When I asked the team what they wanted to do, they responded, ‘we want all boats in the finals at the national championships.’ I think they wanted to go beyond that; that is why there is a slight disappointment. This is the first time in some time that we have put all three boats in the grand final. It has been at least 10 years.”
Flavin, for her part, has relished the time she has put in getting the most out of her boats.
“I have so much respect for the rowers and what they go through,” said Flavin.
“I don’t think there is any other sport like that; being able to be in a boat with them is really inspiring.”