Crew teams open season at San Diego Classic
When people talk about club sports, the first thing that comes
to mind probably isn’t the prospect of practicing six days a week
incorporating a total of nine practices, some in the afternoon and
some at five in the morning. However, if crew is your cup of tea,
brew it strong with lots of sugar so you will have enough energy to
get through the week.
Practices for the 30-member women’s team and 32-member men’s
squad involve running, weights, ergometer work, as well as boat
work on the water.
Said men’s coach Craig Webster, "the practices are pretty
intensive on the water." Over the spring vacation, both teams
remained at school, working through punishing double-days in order
to prepare for the upcoming season and their first regatta.
The season for both the male and female rowers jumped off with a
bang this past weekend at the San Diego Crew Classic where they
joined most of the West Coast universities, including UCSD,
Berkeley, UC Irvine, Stanford and USC as well as several East Coast
schools in a battle for the title at the opening regatta. Each race
consisted of a crew of eight per boat negotiating a 2,000-meter
course with a score of other boats hot on their heels.
When all was said and done, the men’s varsity squad had put on a
solid show, placing fourth out of 12 competitors in the varsity
race. The women’s team found themselves coming in eighth out of 12
with a team consisting mostly of freshmen.
"We could have done better," Webster said. "In the first race
(of the season) we weren’t quite mentally ready. We were a little
tense."
Although the men’s team did not quite get the result they had
hoped for, Webster foresees a bright season on the horizon.
"I’m pretty optimistic," Webster said. "We’re a pretty young
team moving forward. We could have done better (this weekend)."
But a shot at redemption lies just ahead this weekend when the
men row against UC San Diego in a dual meet.
"It will provide a chance to see if we are faster than UCSD,"
Webster said. "I think we are."
Webster and women’s coach Andrew Morrow both agreed that it is
difficult for individuals to shine in this sport.
"With rowing, it’s hard to have standout rowers because it is a
team," Morrow said. "We win or lose as a team. Every person is
valuable. It takes eight people to power the boat."
Both squads will compete in dual meets against Pac-10 schools
beginning this weekend and continuing through May.
* * *
While the men’s and women’s crew teams opened their seasons, the
men’s rugby team took the field for its final league game of the
season against San Diego. The league finale would see the winner
advance to the Pacific Region playoffs and the end of the line for
the loser. The Bruins saw their season draw to a close as they lost
to USD, 35-10. The Bruins finished up with a 4-3 record in league
matches.
"This was a great improvement over last year," team captain Ken
Fox said. "This was the first time in three years that we’ve been
in playoff contention. The rugby program is really a hidden gem as
far as social aspects are concerned. You get to make friends and
stay in shape."
Four of the team members may be looking to playing in
post-season all-star games. Fox, eight-man Ealar Gallagher, flanker
Drew Haniman and Matt Nolan were all invited to try out for a
select Southern California team of collegiate players.
For the remainder of the spring, the team will engage in light
conditioning and the election of officers with the intense practice
schedule resuming again in the fall. For anyone who is interested,
you can call Ken Fox at 824-5008 or team president Matt Nolan at
208-3159.