A DREAM COME TRUE: Blake Dietrick heads to the basket in 2015 during her senior season for the Princeton University women’s basketball team. The star guard is currently in her second stint in the WNBA, playing for the Atlanta Dream. Dietrick has made eight appearances for the Dream, getting a season-high 18 minutes with three points in a 79-72 loss to the New York Liberty on June 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After a brilliant career for the Princeton University women’s basketball team and a stint in an Italian pro league, Blake Dietrick achieved her goal of playing in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as she made the opening day roster for the Seattle Storm in 2016.

But Dietrick didn’t stick with the team, appearing in two games for the Storm and then playing in one game for the San Antonio Stars on a seven-day contract. more

HOMECOMING: Addie Micir, center, surveys the action during her role as an assistant coach for the Dartmouth College women’s basketball team. Micir, a 2011 Princeton University alum and former star for the Tigers women’s hoops program, is coming home to serve as an assistant coach for her alma mater. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill  Alden

When Addie Micir arrived at Princeton University in the fall of 2007 and joined the women’s basketball team, she developed an instant rapport with head coach Courtney Banghart.

“She has been a mentor of mine since day one when I stepped on campus and she was my coach,” said Micir. more

PRO PROSPECT: Ben Gross fires a pitch this spring in his senior season for the Princeton University baseball team. The former Princeton High standout enjoyed a superb final campaign, going 4-5 with 52 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings and a 4.47 ERA as he earned second-team All-Ivy League honors. Last week, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.(Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Coming off a breakthrough junior season in 2017 which saw Ben Gross emerge as a star pitcher for the Princeton University baseball team after two years of struggling with injury, the senior righty got off to a rough start this spring. more

HOGAN’S HEROES: Danny Hogan, far right, helps the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight take second at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta last Sunday on Mercer Lake. The Tigers just missed the national title as they finished just behind victorious Columbia, clocking a time of 6:19.514 over the 2,000-meter course with the Lions coming at 6:18.782. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was a daily reminder for Danny Hogan and Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight of the main obstacle that stood between them and a national title.

Having lost twice to Columbia for its only two defeats of the spring, the boat had its sights firmly set defeating Columbia when the two crews met at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta. more

LIGHT MOMENT: The Princeton University women’s lightweight varsity eight enjoys the moment after taking third place at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta last Sunday at Mercer Lake. It was the second straight bronze medal for Princeton’s top boat at the IRAs. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Megan Mirabella was hoarse but happy after piloting the Princeton University women’s lightweight varsity eight to a third place finish at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta last Sunday at Mercer Lake.

“Working with Paul [Princeton head coach Paul Rassam], we are able to use the time between sprints and IRAs really well,” said a raspy Mirabella, a senior coxswain from North Wales, Pa. “We were really excited to show our improvements and really battle them a lot closer than last year.” more

HEAVY DUTY: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight churns through the water as it competed in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta grand final last Sunday on Mercer Lake. The Tigers took fifth in the race, which was won by Yale. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It became a nightmare scenario for the Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight as it warmed up for the grand final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta last Sunday morning.

An oar on the Princeton boat got caught in the choppy water on Mercer Lake and snapped back, breaking a stay on the boat. more

LEGENDS OF THE FALL: Princeton University women’s soccer midfielder Vanessa Gregoire, left, and football quarterback Chad Kanoff are shown in action last fall. The two senior standouts won the major awards when the Princeton University Department of Athletics held its Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet at Jadwin Gym. Gregoire earned the C. Otto von Kienbusch Award as the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete while Kanoff received the William Winston Roper Trophy as the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Women’s soccer midfielder Vanessa Gregoire and football quarterback Chad Kanoff produced record-breaking campaigns last fall as they culminated their Princeton University careers.

Gregoire and Kanoff were both named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in their respective sports. more

LIGHTS OUT: Members of the Princeton University men’s lightweight third varsity eight celebrate their win at the Eastern Sprints earlier this month. Princeton came up big at the Sprints as the varsity eight took second with second varsity placing third and the fourth varsity coming in first along with the 3V. The Tigers are hoping for another strong performance this weekend as they take part in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta at Mercer Lake in West Windsor from June 1-3. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Over the course of the spring, the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight has separated itself from just about all of its competition.

In regular season action, Princeton’s top boat posted victories over Yale, Harvard, Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth, Navy, and Georgetown, among others. more

HEAVY MEDAL: The Princeton University men’s heavyweight second varsity eight celebrates after earning gold earlier this month at the Eastern Sprints. It was one of four medals earned by Princeton at the competition held on May 13 in Worcester, Mass. as the fourth varsity placed first with the third varsity and fifth varsity both coming in second. Tiger rowers will be looking for more medals this weekend as they compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta at Mercer Lake in West Windsor from June 1-3.(Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity eight just missed earning a medal at Eastern Sprints earlier this month, the crew showed it can compete with any boat in the nation.

“It was an awesome race. It was one of those things in rowing that you don’t get to see very often where there were three boats there and it was a drag race in the last 500 meters,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes, whose top boat placed fourth in its final at 5:58.728 over the 2,000-meter course with Brown coming in third at 5:58.232, Harvard taking second in 5:58.072, and Yale posting a winning time of 5:54.668. more

PULLING THROUGH: Princeton University women’s rowing star Claire Collins displays her form in a race this spring. Junior standout Collins rowed in the fourth seat to help the open varsity 8 win the Ivy championship regatta earlier this month, earning first-team All-Ivy honors in the process. Collins and the Tigers will be going after another title as the compete in the NCAA Championships from May 25-27 at Sarasota, Fla. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

It didn’t take long for Claire Collins to make an impact in the sport of rowing.

Taking up the sport in the spring of her freshman year at Deerfield Academy (Mass.), Collins was competing for the U.S. National Junior team by that summer.

“It accelerated pretty quickly,” said Collins, a native of McLean, Va. who also starred at volleyball and swimming at Deerfield.  more

SERIOUSLY GOOD: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Kyla Sears heads to goal in a game this season. Freshman attacker Sears produced a sensational debut campaign for the Tigers, scoring 83 points on 64 goals and 19 assists to set the Princeton and Ivy League record for most goals and points by a freshman. The play of Sears helped Princeton go 9-2 in its last 11 games on the way to going 13-6, winning the Ivy tournament and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tourney. With Sears returning along with four of the team’s other five top scorers this spring and the whole defense, the future looks bright for the Tigers. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In late March, the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team dug an early hole against visiting Syracuse and ended up losing 17-16 to the Orange as a late rally fell short.

Just over six weeks later, the foes met for a rematch in the opening round of the NCAA tournament and this time, Princeton jumped out to an early lead and then produced a late comeback to pull out a 12-11 double overtime triumph over the Orange. more

OPEN ARMS: Members of the Princeton University women’s open varsity eight celebrate after winning the grand final at the Ivy League championship regatta on Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J. last Sunday. It was the third straight Ivy crown for the open top boat and its fourth in the last five years. Princeton is next in action when it competes at the NCAA championship regatta from May 25-27 in Sarasota, Fla. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

Lori Dauphiny had a good feeling about her Princeton University women’s open varsity eight as it headed into the Ivy League championship regatta last weekend.

“This last week of training prior to the championships, they made some really nice strides,” said Princeton head coach Dauphiny. “I started to notice that the boat was picking up speed.” more

TESS TIME: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Tess D’Orsi heads to goal in action last weekend at the Ivy League Tournament held at Class of 1952 Stadium. Sophomore attacker D’Orsi tallied four goals  and an assist as top-seeded Princeton defeated second-seeded Penn 13-10 in the championship game last Sunday. The Tigers, now 12-5, will face Syracuse (9-9) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Boston College on May 11. The victor will face fourth seeded BC (19-1) is a second round contest on May 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With top-seeded Princeton University women’s lacrosse team locked in a 9-9 stalemate against second-seeded Penn in the second half of the Ivy League Tournament Championship game last Sunday, it became Tess D’Orsi time for the Tigers.

Princeton sophomore attacker D’Orsi scored a goal to put the Tigers ahead 10-9 and then after the visiting Quakers answered to make it 10-10, she tallied two unanswered goals to make the difference on the way to a 13-10 win. more

DOCKSIDER: Princeton University softball player Danielle Dockx makes a play in recent action. Senior infielder Dockx ended her career last weekend as the Tigers wrapped up the season by going 1-2 in a three-game set against visiting Cornell. Princeton finished the spring at 10-29 overall and 8-13 Ivy League. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton University softball team having been eliminated from the Ivy League title race, there was pride on the line last weekend when the Tigers hosted Cornell in a season-ending three-game set.

Sparked by its trio of seniors Kylee Pierce, Danielle Dockx, and Ashley LaGuardia setting the tone, Princeton was determined to end the season by fighting to the last out. more

STANDING TALL: Princeton University men’s lacrosse goalie Tyler Blaisdell makes a save in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star Blaisdell enjoyed the big home finale of the Tigers, making 10 saves to help Princeton defeat sixth-ranked Cornell 14-8. The Tigers who just missed making the Ivy League postseason tournament, moved to 8-5 overall and 3-3 Ivy. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tyler Blaisdell helped get the Senior Day festivities underway for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team last Saturday as he was one of the first members of the squad’s Class of 2018 to be introduced.

Smiling broadly, senior goalie Blaisdell strode to the center of the field at Class of 1952 Stadium arm in arm with his parents, greeting his other classmates as they were honored before the Tigers battled No. 6 Cornell. more

TRUE GRIT: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Cammie Sullivan unloads the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, senior co-captain and star midfielder Sullivan scored a goal and scooped up five draw controls to help Princeton defeat Cornell 15-10. The 18th-ranked Tigers, now 8-5 overall and 4-1 Ivy League, host No. 10 Penn (11-2 overall, 5-0 Ivy) on April 25 before playing at Columbia (6-8 overall, 3-3 Ivy) on April 28 in their regular season finale. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was Senior Day for the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team as it hosted Cornell last Saturday and handmade posters of each of the six seniors being recognized hung behind the Princeton bench.

The poster honoring senior co-captain and midfielder Cammie Sullivan included the words “hungry, soldier, guts, passion.” more

SHINING LIGHTS: The Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight shows its form in a regatta this spring. Princeton topped Penn last Saturday on the way to winning the Wood-Hammond Trophy. The third-ranked Tigers now head to New Haven, Conn. on April 28 to battle top-ranked Harvard and No. 4 Yale in the annual H-Y-P Regatta. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

By Bill Alden

After posting opening day wins over Navy and Georgetown on March 24, the Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity eight suffered a setback as it got edged by Columbia a week later.

While Princeton head coach Marty Crotty was disappointed by the result against the Lions, he urged his rowers to stay the course. more