Rowing for women makes headway as the fall season ends – The Square

from Adrianne Hutto, Asst. Production Editor

The women’s rowing team is making headway this spring as the sports teams are seeing a return to normal. With the MAAC on the horizon and a fresh group of walk-ons, the women’s rowing team is having an exciting season. Manhattan achieved a personal best in The Head of the Charles race, securing 12th place and automatic qualification for the event the following year. Despite the 5am wake-up call to practice, the team is excited about what’s to come. This week The Quadrangle spoke to a few players to get a glimpse of their season so far.

Last year, COVID restrictions were at a peak, affecting many teams’ ability to conduct normal exercises and attend events. With players going in and out of quarantine, most sports teams had an unstable season.

Lauren Hughes, a senior at Manhattan College and the rowing team captain, said that while the team could practice and race, there was still a noticeable shift from last year to this year.

“Last year we practiced in pods based on the boat you were in,” said Hughes. “So it was a little more difficult when someone was quarantined, but this semester it’s obviously so much easier.”

With many rowers in their first regular season, it was difficult for them to get a feel for a true Division 1 season.

“For me, I was rowing in my freshman year and high school so I’m kind of used to the pace of being in season and racing. But I think it was definitely a bigger change for the newbies and last year’s newbie, ”said Hughes. “I think people were super excited to get back in and really compete this year. I think people were much more motivated, it was definitely a big change, just in terms of time management. “

The players stated that many rowers are typically walk-ons. With no access to a high school body of water or a high school rowing team, many rowers did not become involved in the sport until college. For this reason, the Jasper rowing team always accepts running players.

Maeve McNally-Cullum is a junior rower on the port side. McNally-Cullum explains harmful walk-ons for the team as she was one herself.

“Rowing is a great sport, I was a runner. The only way to learn [rowing] is to be thrown in and do it, ”said McNally-Cullum. “It’s hard to learn, but once you’ve done it it’s all about repetition and the only way you can get better is to practice. You get what you put in. “

Younger athletes are already making progress in the team and showing promising results in their first semi-regular season.

“She [novice players] won their first beginner’s race, which was super exciting. I know they were all super hyped for getting their first metal. We’re all very impressed and happy to have her on the team, ”said Hughes.

The Head of the Charles is a famous major international rowing regatta that takes place every fall in Boston. With rowers from all over the world and a just over 4,000 meter long course with winding curves and a total of seven bridges for steering, this event is an important part of the career of any college rower. Due to tightened COVID restrictions last year, the chief of Charles was not held as usual. This year MC Rowing was able to take part in the event.

Elyse Holmes, a senior communications student and the team’s captain, took part in the Four, a boat with four rowers and a coxan. The competition was an opportunity for the team to bond with each other and with their coach. But it also allowed for serious improvement.

“We went this way and in the end we were proud of what we brought out. It was a little scary at times because this course is known for crashing, ”said Holmes.

The team scored 12 out of 32, which means they will automatically qualify for the event next year.

For the past four years, the MC rowing team has worked hard to increase their speed and increase the number of their programs. The season was already successful for rowing, which competed against the Ivy League and top teams early in the fall season.

“We recently increased the size of the teams we competed against,” said Hughes. Like this weekend, we raced Syracuse and Cornell, some big programs, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them out on the track a few more times and trying to give them a run for their money. “

As the speed and success at The Head of the Charles increase, the team will be noticed by other schools.

“I think over the four years I and the other seniors and everyone involved have done a really good job and laid a solid foundation,” said Holmes. “Now produces a lot of speed in the program, and other programs become aware of it.”

The main goal of the teams right now is to increase speed and productivity.

“We hit really hard in the weight room and made sure we put in a little more time, whether it be for a run, a bike ride, or extra time for the urge outside of training just to give us the best opportunities,” said Hughes.

With additional time in the weight room and strength training outside of workout, this goal will become a reality.

“We made it to the grand finale for the first time in history, to the second Varsity 8. These are the first eight to have reached this grand finale. We’re trying to beat that again, not just in the 2V by repeating that, but also beat our times in the 1V, I think the 1V went 7:09 at their 2000 meter pace. We’ll be the strongest, ”said Holmes.

The team has one more regatta for the fall season and six waiting for them in the spring. The goal of women’s rowing is to achieve more goals and break your own records.

“Last year we made it into the grand finale with an eight. We’re really preparing for an intense indoor season so I think we could do really well. It’s all about having our heads in the game, ”said McNally-Cullum. “Since Marist is in the top 20 in the NCAAs, I think it made our conference a lot more competitive. I think we can do really well if we put our heads and wits into it and just row our boats properly. “