Nationals Will Put a Wrap on the Season

In rowing nothing is above the boat itself. It is a lesson learned by all rowers, coxswains, and coaches time and time again at practice and on the race course.

With it comes the understanding, that all boats must have to go fast, that when a boat succeeds, it succeeds together. When a boat falters it falters together. Accomplishments and defeats are not addressed on an individual level, and when boats learn to row as one they are able to row to their fullest ability.

It's a daunting task at times as few things are harder than getting eight rowers to acheive a rhythm more like machine than it is human. A metronome could count the turn of the oar in it's lock. Great things happen when a boat can create that machine and let the shell glide across the water like it were floating through air.

Some of these boats exist in our fleet, and they have had the best seasons we have seen at Absegami Crew. It's amazing to watch our athletes do what they have done and with nationals ahead signalling the end of the year, we can be sure the lesson that nothing is above the boat was imparted well.

We have had our best season to date characterized by a determination to raise the bar higher than we left it last year. Most importantly, our season has given us the drive to keep pushing and not give up, even when we find ourselves behind.

We have had tough lessons to learn this year but they have only given our boats the momentum to drive back harder and do their level best in the most challenging of conditions.

Nationals will be our last chance to compete in a benchmark season that has given us as much as we have put in. We're ready to leave it on the water this weekend and row to a finish beffiting of the effort put forth since we rigged boats in the fall.