Crew team eager for victories

Elizabeth Pacheco Sports Editor

For the Vassar crew teams, October is the most important month of the fall season. Having already dedicated numerous hours to practice, the men and women’s teams compete in four regattas in October: the Head of the Genesee, the Navy Day Regatta, the Head of the Charles, and the upcoming Head of the Fish.

Coached by Rodney Mott and Assistant Coach Cherith Greenwood, the women’s varsity team currently boasts eight and four boats, and the men’s team has a varsity four. As the novice rowers become more comfortable on the water, this number will expand.

The first of the fall regattas was the Head of the Genesee, held on Oct. 8 in Rochester, NY. With the Head of the Connecticut cancelled for that weekend, many larger Division I schools, which in the past have not competed in this regatta, entered the competition. Although the Brewers did not reach the finals, the team showed great effort. The varsity men’s four placed eighth out of 10 boats, but more importantly, one second ahead of the Rochester Institute of Technology, who won the gold last spring at the prominent Dad Vail Regatta.

Following the Head of the Genesee was the Navy Day Regatta on Oct. 15 in Philadelphia. Held on the Schuylkill River, this regatta marked the first race for the novice. Combined with the varsity men’s four, who earlier in the day finished 18th out of 19, the novice men’s team raced in the College Men’s 8, placing fifth out of five boats. Vassar also raced a lightweight men’s four who, as the only Division III boat, placed second behind Georgetown University. The novice women’s team placed 15th out of 15, while the women’s varsity eight finished 13th out of 14 teams and the Women’s Dad Vail 8+, consisting of five varsity and four novice rowers, placed eighth out of nine boats.

Having graduated eight seniors last season, novice rowers are proving to be critical this fall. “Building depth and more experience at all levels are important goals for this season,” said Mott. By training more novice rowers, the varsity team is able to pull from a larger pool of talent, making the boats more competitive against larger schools.

Coming off a very successful first season last spring, Mott is bringing fresh ideas to the program and feels the team has great potential. Led by men’s captains Pat Schneider ’07 and Gregg Orton ’08 and women’s captains Whitney Krause ’08, Katie Mixter ’09 and Ellen Schramm ’09, the team now has access to new equipment, a refurbished dock, and a recently-finished erg room in Kenyon Hall, allowing for better off-water practice.

Competing in one more regatta this month, the Brewers are eager to prove themselves. “The team has a passion that is inspiring to coach,” said Greenwood. “I know that if we continue to work hard the team will become faster and stronger.”