Boys’ Crew Satisfied With Season Results
The boys’ crew team had a successful season this past spring with both varsity boats pulling off numerous big wins and the third boat finishing the season undefeated. During the final match at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) regatta, Exeter’s second boat placed second and their first boat placed fifth in the petite finals. The crew program as a whole also pulled off a historic sweep against Andover with all the boys’ and girls’ boats winning. The first boat faced two tough losses against St. Paul’s and St. John’s at the beginning and end of the season, but found success in all their other regattas, including a victory against the traditionally formidable Kent team. The second boat had a record of 3-2 going into NEIRAs.
The team entered the season strong, following a fall and winter full of training. Their roster was filled with many returning rowers, the addition of postgraduate Joe Buckley and the return of one of their varsity coaches, science instructor Albert Leger. Lower Francis Baviera Maloney credited some of the team’s success to the strength and athleticism their experienced rowers brought. “Having a strong returning group of seniors and a crew PG meant that we just had raw power and fitness to make us quick,” he said.
Following a disappointing season last year, the team was eager to rise back to the top. “We were hungry. The program hadn’t done too well last year so we wanted to show the world of rowing what we could do,” upper Aidan Wolff-King said.
“If we row hard and leave everything on the water, no one will be able to catch us.”
Although the first boat faced a tough loss in its first game, they took the defeat in stride and used it as motivation to propel themselves into a winning streak. “We had a tough loss in our first race of the season that had many of us feeling discouraged, but after that we were able to really come together as a boat and had a long undefeated stretch for nearly a month,” Buckley said.
The team embraced their underdog position and used it to propel themselves forward throughout the season. “We began the season as underdogs, and fought as such,” senior Will Rau said.
The first boat’s win against Kent School was a major highlight of the season. Coming into the race, Exeter was certainly the dark horse—Kent historically has one of the strongest crew programs and its average boat weight was 20 pounds above Exeter’s. Captain and senior Jake Della Pasqua felt Exeter’s disadvantaged position made their victory sweeter. “That was such a close race, and to come out on top, especially as the underdog was amazing,” he said.
The team took a hit midway through the season with the departure of a varsity rower. Nevertheless, the team managed to bounce back and row hard at the next regatta. “We lost a valued member of our team and needed to adapt to his absence after many of us were feeling very upset with the outcome of the whole situation,” Buckley said.
Members of the team emphasized their collective closeness as a major factor in determining the team’s success. Buckley was amazed by what the team could accomplish when centered around a common goal. “This season has really showed me the power a group of people can have when they are all unified in a common goal, and it has been inspiring to row with such a determined and competitive group,” he said.
Della Pasqua emphasized the importance of each rower working together to push towards a win. “I learned what true commodity within a boat feels like, and how much speed a boat can gain just by having nine people that trust each other to each go their hardest on every stroke,” he said.
Wolff-King highlighted the impact that each rower has on the team as a whole. “In rowing, what wins races isn't the boat or oars or coaches, it’s the rowers,” he said. “We have to show up every day and for every race ready to pull our hearts out. If we don’t, we will fail. Because of this, teamwork is a bigger part of crew than others.”
Rau agreed with Wolff-King in regards to the importance of the attitude of the team. “When all nine of us had the same goal, we succeeded,” he said.
Boat members also emphasized the persistence and spirit demonstrated by the team. “What allowed this team to perform at such a high level was largely the grit and determination of each guy on the roster. We aren’t the most technical crew out there, but we know how to focus and just race harder than other teams which in the end is what gets you across the line fastest,” Buckley said.
Similarly, upper Stone Sulley said that his boat was filled with “oarsmen who pull really hard every stroke of every practice and race and who work as hard as miserable livestock.”
Buckley pressed how the spirit and determination shown by the team was ultimately the deciding factor in their success.“If we row hard and leave everything on the water, no one will be able to catch us,” he said.
Members of the team are confident looking onwards to next year, as many rowers will be returning and the third boat has had great success this past season. “Our remaining varsity oarsmen are promising, and I expect us to be just as successful in our season next year,” Sulley said.
Rau was confident that the boys will be able to maintain the attitude and mindset that had given them success this season. “I know that the boys will keep fighting next year as they always do—onwards and upwards,” he said.