That wasn’t the case for the Harvard University men’s rowing team. The Crimson brought home a boatload of trophies from yesterday’s Eastern Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond.

“We looked at this event as an opportunity to show what kind of team we are,’’ said Harvard freshman heavyweight coach Bill Manning. “We didn’t see it as pressure.’’

The Crimson won the five grand final races they were favored in, as well as the Rowe Cup and the Jope Cup.

The Rowe Cup goes to the team with the highest point total in the heavyweight events. Harvard had 41 points to Princeton’s 34 and Wisconsin’s 28. It was the second straight season the Crimson earned the Rowe Cup.

The Jope Cup goes to the team with the highest point total in the lightweight races. Harvard finished with 33 points, Yale 31, and Princeton 29.

“I am really pleased,’’ said Harvard varsity heavyweight coach Harry Parker. “All of our crews rowed up to their full potential.’’

Harvard didn’t just win the five events, it dominated them. The Crimson’s triumphs all came by more than one second, including two by more than a boat length. The Crimson seized leads at the beginning of each race and expanded them, making it easier down the stretch.

The five victories added to Harvard’s overall domination of the Eastern Sprints. The Crimson now have 141 titles, including 54 at the varsity level, in the 65 years the event has taken place.

“We work hard,’’ said Parker, explaining why his crews are so dominant. “We have a lot of good rowers and are lucky to have them. We have some very competitive practices.’’

In the varsity heavyweight final, the Crimson didn’t stray from their modus operandi. They grabbed an early lead, but Princeton and Wisconsin made late runs. The Crimson were able to rebuff those advances, winning in 5:40.39. Princeton finished at 5:42.37 and the Badgers in 5:42.51. The victory was the second in a row in the heavyweight final for the Crimson.

The final event of the day, the varsity lightweight final, was the toughest win for Harvard. Through the first 1,000 meters of the 2,000-meter course, Harvard and Yale were neck and neck. Over the next 500 meters, the Crimson were able to gain some separation, and that was enough to give them the victory. They finished in 5:45.36, followed by Dartmouth (5:46.86) and Yale (5:46.96).

The Crimson’s grand final victory streak began with their freshman heavyweight crew. They shot out of the blocks and established a boat-length lead in the first 750 meters of the race. From there, the Crimson coasted to victory with a time of 5:54.52. Princeton (6:00.42) placed second and Northeastern (6:02.53) third. It was the second consecutive year the Crimson won the freshman heavyweight title.

“We came out strong,’’ said Manning. “We just wanted to attack from the start, force the pace, and see who could stay with us.’’

Harvard continued its winning ways in the second varsity lightweight grand final, finishing in 6:00.63 to easily beat Princeton and Cornell.

In the second varsity heavyweight grand final, Harvard (5:49.01) led from start to finish, beating Wisconsin (5:52.53) by a boat length.

Wisconsin and Yale both won two grand finals. The Badgers claimed the second freshmen heavyweight and third varsity heavyweight finals. The Bulldogs won the third varsity lightweight final and the freshman lightweight final.