WPI Women's Rowing - 2019 NCAA's: May 2019

Friday, May 31, 2019

May 31 - Heats in the heat

I will start by saying that today ended on a fantastic note - both crews advanced to the grand finals! Getting to that racing opportunity was frustrating and challenging. We arrived at the venue around 6AM to a perfect sunny morning with flat water, and the 2V immediately started warming up for their scheduled 8:12 race. After a full warmup and putting hands on the boat to launch around 7:20, it was announced racing would be delayed until the afternoon. All the athletes returned tot the hotel for quiet rest until we got an update from the race organizing committee. Turns out that heavy rain the prior night caused very large masses of debris to flow into the reservoir and damage the start line infrastructure and covering the race course with floating logs, wood, etc. See pics below. The athletes returned in the afternoon after it was announced racing would start at 3PM (our 2V's heat). Once again, the 2V did a full warmup, and were just finishing when it was announced racing was delayed until 4PM...grrrr... Meanwhile, the 1V stayed in the shade and off their feet, and coaches Noble, Larissa, and Liz volunteered as launch drivers to help with debris removal. At 2:50 the 2V started their 3rd warmup of the day, then launched and headed out to do battle. The 1V did the same, then launched for their 4:30 race. At 4PM, the Star Spangled Banner was played and racing started, with on-water lane seeding changes happening due to fairness committee decisions. The 2Vs blasted off the start for 100m, when the Bates boat stopped rowing for broken equipment. The race was stopped and sent back to 'warmup' under the blazing sun. Meanwhile, the next 2V heat ran, then the two 1V heats ran, while our 2V roasted under the sun for another 30 min. The 1V won their heat with a solid row, taking down Wellesley, then the 2V rowed a fantastic piece finishing 2nd to Bates and open water over the remaining crews. Hooo...Raahhh! A good day! Tomorrow we race for the national championship at 11:12 and 11:36AM! Hope to see you there or that you can watch live, online!

First thing this morning

Finish area

From the finish tower

Waiting....

More waiting....

Solid advice!

Debris hauled out - a small portion

Some of the debris removed

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Indy Day 2 - Good preparation is key

Today the boats practiced early then all the teams, DI, DII, and DIII, headed to the Indiana Convention Center for the annual welcoming brunch and awards. It was very well done this year, with a fantastic talk from US National Team rower Amanda Elmore. To top it off, our own Sarah St. Pierre '19, received the DIII Elite 90 Award for outstanding academic achievement of a student athlete. Sarah has a 4.0 GPA and has rowed with us for 4 years. Congratulations Sarah!!! We are all very proud :-)

Heats tomorrow morning - DIII events are first 4 of the day. Go here for live video feed of the races and results:
https://www.indianasportscorp.org/events/ncaa-division-i-ii-iii-rowing-championships

Adios!
Coach Pat

Banquet hall

2V glam

KA-CHOW!!!!

Coach and Sarah! Awesome!

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Eagle Creek Park welcomes WPI

We are here at the venue, Eagle Creek Park. Rowing happens on the north end of the reservoir. The whole of NCAA women's rowing qualifying teams are here, and it's very cool and awesome! We got credentials, rigged boats, weighed boats, did the obligatory coxswains meetings, practiced once this afternoon and will try to do two practices tomorrow, with the NCAA awards brunch tomorrow as well. It's been a bit busy...Indy is a cool city and this amazing war monument is behind our hotel. The team is in good spirits and getting ready to race...Hoo Rahhhh!

Rigging

Boat weigh in

Warming up w Coach Paul

Practice

Downtown near hotel

The final leg

The cake is baked....we’re on our way!!

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Tallyho!! Indy or bust...

The intrepid travelers are steadily moving westward ( in Syracuse at the moment - just passed the Onandoga race course from vintage IRA lore)...
“Are we there yet?”

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Day 12 - Polishing

Our final couple of rows on Quinsigamond before departure to Indy. Might have been our only day of really nice water 😎

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Day 9 - Ordered up some stiff breezes for today’s practice...

Boats are coming along...spirits are good...tested new Uni’s from JL today 😎👍. I need to start packing and getting the Steely Dan mixed playlist ready for Larry!