GETTING THE UPPER HAND: Princeton University women’s open crew head coach Lori Dauphiny congratulates Gabby Cole, right, after a race last year. Last Saturday, senior star Cole helped the Princeton first varsity boat start the season in style as it topped Ohio State and Brown to win its opening regatta and claim the Class of 1987 Trophy. The Tigers are next in action when they row against Columbia on April 6 at Ridgefield Park, N.J. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton Crew/Tom Nowak)

Lori Dauphiny knew that her Princeton University women’s open crew first varsity faced a good test last weekend in its season-opening regatta.

Hosting Ohio State and longtime Ivy League rival Brown on Lake Carnegie last Saturday, the first boat was pushed hard. The three foes were within a length of each other for most of the race before Princeton pulled ahead at the end. The Tigers posted a time of 6:40.7 over the 2,000-meter course to win the Class of 1987 Trophy with Ohio State second in 6:43.8 and Brown just behind in 6:44.5.

“We went against really good competition,” said Princeton head coach Dauphiny, noting that Ohio State and Brown both did well at the 2102 NCAA championship regatta.

“The first varsity had a great race on Saturday, it was really close. Ohio State and Brown were dead level for most of the race and we were ¾ of a length ahead. They were all overlapping, it was nerve-wracking.”

While the tight race may have been stomach churning for Dauphiny, she realizes that her rowers benefitted from the close call.

“There was a lot of experience to be gained,” said Dauphiny. “I am glad the first varsity had such an intense race. We learned some valuable information. It is not just the start and shift. It was the middle of the race and what happens when you are level with the other boats. We learn more when we have racing like that.”

The Tigers are learning a lot on a daily basis as the program’s stockpile of talent makes for spirited training sessions.

“I think one thing we do have this year is depth; we have been working on that for a few years and I think depth is a strength of the team,” said Dauphiny, whose second varsity placed second behind Ohio State on Saturday while the varsity four took third and the third varsity 8 and the varsity 4 ‘B’ both posted victories.

“It is a good competition; they push each but in a very supportive way. We race each other side by side, we have seat races, we ERG together. I tell them this  is what makes you faster and how you get better.”

With Princeton racing against Columbia on April 6 at Ridgefield Park, N.J., Dauphiny will be looking for her rowers to get faster.

“We do have a lot to work on, the progress we make is going to be key,” said Dauphiny, noting that the addition of new assistant coaches Kate Maxim and former Tiger men’s star Steve Coppola ’06 has given the program a jolt of energy.

“I didn’t know that much about the boats, I know a lot about the individual rowers. We’ll see how it comes together over the next few weeks.”