WINDSOR, N.J. - Spring
temperatures are rising as the competition heats up for Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference rowing crews.
As fellow students enjoy the 103rd Drake Relays, the Drake
women's rowing team will head to West Windsor, N.J. to compete for its
conference title.
On April 28th the women's rowing team will
compete against crews from Marist College, Robert Morris University, University
of Jacksonville, Farifield University, Canisius College and Sacred Heart
University on Mercer Lake.
Twenty distinct Drake rowers and three coxswains will
compete in the varsity 8+, second varsity 8+ and varsity 4+ boats.
"This is what we have been working towards all year with our
races and training," Drake head coach Charlie
DiSilvestro said. "Our practices have been solid all week and we need to
execute the race plan and not let the overall event overwhelm us. If we execute
we will be ready to race hard."
After high winds created unsafe rowing conditions and a
subsequent last-minute championship cancellation last year, Drake hopes to best
its fourth place finish from 2010.
As the countdown to the championship reaches single digits,
Drake rowing is working to fine tune race plans and shave off seconds.
"Since facing the V8+ faced the other conference teams in
Connecticut we have made some lineup changes and pushed for faster boats," said
senior captain Susan Goulette. "For
next week we are ready for tough competition and to show the East Coast what
our crew from Des Moines is all about."
"Water time hasn't helped in our training but we're still
working hard and making improvements," said DiSilvestro. "I think we've made
adjustments since Connecticut and put ourselves in contention to win."
The Shelton Invitational on April 2, 2012 in Shelton, Conn.t,
was used to seed MAAC teams for the conference races. The second place finish
by the Drake varsity 8+ boat placed the team in position for the second seed
and lanes three or four.
This year the team has added additional practices and
intensified training to prepare a strong showing at conference. The team also
spent the Spring Break in Tulsa, Okla. with twice-daily practices to start the
spring season off on a strong foundation.
Drake hosted the 2012 Drake Invitational this past weekend
on the Des Moines River. The three-team Regatta featured Drake, Kansas and St.
Thomas and served as a good tune-up for conference races.
When asked to compare the team's chances to last year DiSilvestro
said, "We are deeper and faster as a team. Having everyone- not just varsity-
putting in extra work has made us a strong team."
"I definitely agree that this year we are a strong team. We
have a good bond and I think the extra workouts have really showed since we are
winning at our races," said Goulette. "Our success last weekend at the Lubbers
Cup in Grand Haven, Mich., was a great example of our preparation and what
Drake crew is all about- winning and getting metals."
The MAAC is composed of predominately small-sized Division I
East Coast schools. In need of a championship opportunity, the Drake women's
rowing team joined MAAC in fall of 2009 and has participated in races on the
East Coast to expand its area of competition outside the Midwest. Jacksonville University joined this year and
will round out the competing teams.
The addition of another team to the conference coincides
with an increased emphasis on inter-conference competition. For MAAC crews this conference championship will
serve as a trial run before the conference championship becomes an automatic
qualifying opportunity for 2013 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship.
By: Monica Worsley
Sophomore on the Drake Rowing Team
