When one thinks of rowing, Ivy League crew teams like Harvard and Yale’s might arise, and because of their recent success, the West Springfield Crew Team could join these ranks.
The WS Crew Team has been consistently superior among the NOVA high school club teams in the recent years with high ranking titles on both State and National levels. Last year, the girls’ varsity team took the silver medal in The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association State Championships and continued on to SRAA Nationals. With prior successful seasons looming over their heads, the stakes are high for the 2014 season.
“If the seniors and juniors work really hard and build up strength and endurance [in winter training] hopefully we can get to where we were last year,” said senior Morgan Farquhar.
Despite the pressure, the rowers are prepared to live up to expectations. They’ll be in a more competitive heat this year, which will mean workouts will be more intense, and practices more focused.
“We’re looking to develop a better mindset and a stronger sense of teamwork this year,” said senior Captain Maggie Donahue.
Only one beneficial senior on the girls’ team graduated last year, so there is nothing stopping the team from achieving bigger and better things this upcoming season through hard work and cooperation.
“Crew is teamwork. In everything we do, we work as a team. If we don’t work together, it will offset everything,” said Farquhar.
All rowing athletes can agree that teamwork is the best word to describe crew. A boat is compiled of four or eight rowers who must move their oars in a simultaneous motion to the finish line. If just one person is out of sync, the entire boat is off, and it lessens their chances of a first place finish. With a full reliance on every teammate, each rower must depend on each other to succeed.
“A winning boat is not a boat with eight strong rowers, its eight guys that can work together,” said junior Sean Meiller.