"The best decision I've made in recent
memory, other than saying "YES!" to Princeton, was
joining the crew team. As a high school cross
country runner, I was looking for a new athletic
experience my freshman year of college. What I found in
the Princeton rowing program was far beyond anything I'd ever imagined. Training under
the leadership of world-class coaches and with the inspiration of the Princeton Crew legacy, I've met and conquered both mental and physical challenges through dedication, determination, and hard work of the rawest nature. This individual
effort, fostered by and combined with the effort of
each teammate and the effort of the team as a whole,
has led me to the most intense and the most
rewarding moments of my life. After graduation, I'll
miss racing as a Princeton crew because of these
very moments, but will cherish the memories and friendships forged with my teammates and
coaches as we strove together for something
faster, something stronger, something greater than
any one of us could have ever achieved on our own."
"I came down to the boathouse in the fall of my freshman year,
with no rowing and little athletic experience. Now, in my fourth
year on the Princeton crew, I consider my hours spent on Lake
Carnegie as some of the most important of my Princeton career. I have
learned, and been taught how to be a better rower, friend, team-member
and athlete with the help of my coaches and teammates. The strength
and guidance that the boathouse community has provided me
are reflected in the close relationship I have with not only the people,
but also the values of Princeton Crew. Among these values I
would include dedication, teamwork, tenacity and drive. Today,
these ideals have become an integral part of who I am, and promise to
stay with me at Lake Carnegie and beyond."
- Sarah Cook '00, co-captain, Women's Open Crew
