Exeter Crew Prepares for the Spring Season
By BILL O’ CONNOR and JOONYOUNG HEO
The boys and girls crew teams met at Phillips Academy Andover in the last week of spring break for preseason practice. After a few days of hard training on the water, the athletes left with a stronger team spirit and motivation for the season ahead.
Members of the team found the preseason session very productive. “Everything was in eights, which meant there were eight rowers and one coxswain per boat,” senior Henry Blakemore said. “We had a few mixed boats, so there were members from both teams in one boat. We also used the ergs, rowing simulators, to work out on land.”
“Our technique improved a ton from the beginning to the end,” upper Jamie Reidy said. “The energy in the boats was excellent, and so was the dynamic between the two teams. Even when it was colder, we were working out so much that it was hard to notice.”
Even in their training, the team had a great time. “Everyone on the team progressed as athletes, and it was super fun to get back together with friends,” upper Edie Fisher said. “The weather mostly cooperated as well. We had three warm days where some of us even wore tank tops. I really enjoyed it.”
“We were rowing about 28 kilometers per day,” senior Matilda Damon said. “That’s a lot, but it didn’t feel like it at all. The team was hanging out and playing games every night, and once we got on the water we were racing each other and having a blast.”
Training at Andover was a new experience for many on the team. “I’ve raced there before, but this was the first time training,” Fisher said. “It was interesting to see a larger part of their river because normally we’re just on the race course. There’s a set of some intriguing billboards. A nice little house. The river didn’t seem to end.”
“The team was curious and maybe a little anxious to see how training would go, compared to our experience last year in Deland, Florida,” senior and team captain Kate Nixon said. “We were all really pleased with how it went! The wind was always mild, and our two practices a day were thankfully al- ways when the sun was out. We were very grateful that Andover allowed us to borrow their boat house.”
“Last year in Florida, we only practiced four to a boat,” Nixon said. “The fact that we were able to begin the term in eights, let alone in our own boats, has given us a nice jump on the season. The return to practice on campus was comfortable and streamlined.”
“The energy in the boats was excellent, and so was the dynamic between the two teams. Even when it was colder, we were working out so much that it was hard to notice. ”
“A strong preseason is crucial for the rest of the season,” Reidy said. “The work we put in early on is going to be really important, and I think everyone recognized that. We took advantage of the time and space to learn and get comfortable in the boat again. We also brought a larger group, so hopefully, we trained some more lowerclassmen for a greater range of strong rowers.”
Their work in preseason has put the team in good shape for the next few months. “I’m excited for our first race,” Blakemore said. “We have a scrimmage next week at the Exeter invitational, and I’m excited to see the guys in the top boats. But I’m also excited to see how the guys in the lower boats do this season.”
“Now our team is set up really well to succeed this term,” Damon said. “The extra mileage and coaching will definitely help us this season and, just maybe, prepare us for nationals.”
“Deerfield is our big competition,” Fisher said. “We’ve learned from last year never to underestimate a team. But really, I’m just excited to see how much progress our team has made and how many more medals we’re going to win this year.”
The rest of the team, following a great preseason, shares these ambitions. “I want to win the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association competition, I want to have another undefeated season, and I want to do better at nationals than we did last year,” Blakemore said. “I want to stay focused, and make every stroke count because it would be a real shame to throw away all the hard work we’ve done.”
“I’m excited to once again be with the strongest group of women I know,” Nixon said. “The team is gritty, determined, and always in pursuit of speed and strength. The environment is infectious, and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us.”
