Testimonials from WC Rowers

Laura Ratz '08
I have loved crew ever since I first started in high school, and WAC crew has been no exception. Rowing at WAC has been the single most important experience in my adjustment to college life. I met many of my close friends on the team and the coaches are very understanding and supportive. Practices are an awesome way to escape academic pressures for a few hours everyday and do something fun and athletic.
- Laura

Liz Gilchrest '04
There are few things in life better than the feeling of the Washington College Crew Team in its full character. My three years on the team proved to be one of the most unique experiences of my life.

It was a wonderful experience of working hard, through adverse situations, for months to prepare for a race against the top crews on the East Coast. There are few things in life better than the feeling of sitting on the line with "no white showing" and then hearing "5-4-3-2-1-Attention…ROW!" And the only feeling that beats that one, is hearing your coxswain scream at the top of her lungs words like "DRIVE!" and "BOW BALL!" and especially "LAST TEN STROKES, GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!"

Looking back, I remember all the memories of trips to Florida for training, long van rides, goofy cheering, power tens…and did I mention our friend, the ergometer?!?!

The best part of it all is when my senior season ended, and it was time to move from the safe haven of Washington College, I knew that I will always have the life long friendships of teammates and coaches that I have met along the way.

I'm talking about the type of friends that you invite to your wedding!!
- Liz

Katherine Wilson '06
Some of my most cherished Washington College moments have come from being with our crew team. I get chills thinking back to the many unforgetable memories with the team: the life changing races and practices where I strove for and reached new limits along with the girls in my boat; the bonding times on the rides to our races when we all laughed for hours in the vans; practicing in the early morning along side a beautiful sunrise as our boats rowed together in unity on the water while most of the town still slept. It's in these moments that I feel so proud and fortunate to be on a team that experiences hard work, success, and fun all together on a daily basis.

I treasure the sense of unity that's created through the daily mental and physical challenges from our races and practices. We all have to learn to successfully master this beautiful sport as one team, working together both on and off the water. There have been, and will continue to be, moments where I'm physically and mentally exhausted during a practice, race, an erg piece, while trying to balance my college schedule. But without the amazing support and encouragement from our team of coaches and rowers, I would've never realized just how much I can push through any of the mental and physical hurdles. Every season I've loved watching our team grow from individual rowers into a unified team of one, celebrating the best in every single member. I've seen this throughout moments like rowing machine pieces which can be very difficult for rowers as it's the one time where we're not in a boat with other rowers to physically help complete the challenging piece. However, it's so exciting to see our team
do these erg pieces as the support that's demonstrated for each other is amazing. Sometimes I love to just take a step back from the emotionally exciting scene to watch as every ounce of support and positive feedback is filtered around the room to our rowers on the erg so that they can successfully reach their new goals.

This team has brought out characteristics within me that I never knew I had like; inner strength, leadership, a more positive way of thinking, an open mind, and more patience in every day situations. I'm definitely a stronger and happier person for having joined this team.
- Katherine

Anna Germain '03
When Coach Davenport asked me to write a testimonial I thought "no problem, that will be so easy!"  And then I started to write and write more and reflect and write more, it seemed that I could write a book; how do you encapsulate something that had such a profound effect on your life in so many ways and on so many different levels?  Crew isn't just a sport to me it was: people, qualities, emotions, ways of communicating and relating, commitment, sacrifice, and taking chances.    I draw on these everyday, especially now that I have been away from college for two years. 

I remember the first time I "took control" of a shell and how scared I was. I remember the first time I gave a command followed by a "please" and was told never to do that again - first step to becoming a leader. I remember contesting my first race - communicating respectfully with referees but standing determined that I was right. I remember staring at beautiful sunrises. I remember the first time I tried to land a shell - it was interesting. I remember looking down the boat and seeing eight perfectly timed strokes. I remember every race and every course. I remember all of our trips and spring breaks in beautiful Cocoa Beach! I remember all of "my girls" - I was protective of them all as if they were mine. I remember so many other things .......

My favorite race that landed us second in the National Division III Coaches Poll and got my boat named ECAC Crew of the Week:

It was a cold day, not too windy, and perfect for a regatta.  We were excited and focused as we climbed in the shell two at a time with the chilly water lapping at our knees.  Looking farther down the launch site I spied Ithaca stepping into their shell, "Here we go," I breathed.  Even though we were ranked in the top 10 in the nation (eighth at the time), we had never beaten Ithaca (ranked second at the time), and we wanted to be number one.  The warm-up was a little more tense than usual; our chance had come.  The girls were still a little goofy, you never got away from that with this crew (I think this is why I loved coxing and getting up at 5:00 a.m. for grueling workouts – it was still fun!).  It ended up that we had to sit behind the start line for a while. Coach Davenport would have been proud as we practiced the chop drill for a good while in trying to stay "warmed" up.  And then it was time to get aligned.  My heart was racing, but I was ready for the ride of my life; the time had come for Washington College Crew to make a statement.  BANG!  Half, half, three quarters, full, now ... we jumped out ahead, we keep walking, take another seat I urge.  I look over across my knees at the five hundred down and see the four seat of Ithaca's crew, I deliver this news to my crew and almost lost my seat as the girls surged with strength flinging me back a little.  I look the other way and we have seats over every other crew.  We were winning.  As we approach the 1000m mark I call out the beginning of our two-punch move.  First gear and we're flying, punch it into second with the stroke rating of 38, "Hold on Anna," is all I could think of.  We had a nice lead, but not open water; I wasn't satisfied and neither was my crew.  My crew took every stroke with every ounce of passion, fire, and energy they had left.  I was so excited I was rendered speechless for the first time in my life, the only thing I could do was beg the girls "Please, Please."  As we crossed the finish line about half the girls almost passed out, but everyone revived themselves well enough to say "Nice race" to all the other crews.  As we pulled into the landing site, my coach looked like he might cry, gave me a hug and shook all eight of the girls' hands.  It was amazing.  We had been beaten by Ithaca every time we raced.  They were taller, bigger, and used to winning.  I, of course, was thrown into the water as per tradition.
- Anna

Anna Germain (holding trophy) celebrates with her crew.