“We went into the regatta with a positive mentality, trying to win, to learn how to be better rowers, and to have a good time,” Boys Varsity Crew member Charlie Davis (10) said. Last weekend, the Boys and Girls Varsity Crew teams traveled to Saratoga Springs, NY, for the annual New York State Scholastic Championship regatta, their first competition of the season, where the boys eight boat placed 18th of 40 teams.

The Boys Varsity Crew team competed on Saturday morning, making it to the petite final, a race for the teams that placed from 9th to 18th, while the Girls team did not place. “We felt pretty good about our performance, given that most members are new to the team this year and do not have much rowing experience,” Davis said. “I really enjoy being able to help out the freshmen and other novices with their techniques.”

Although the team was not accustomed to the intense race atmosphere, they were able to successfully navigate the course, Varsity Crew Coach Matthew Boller said. “We were rowing against some really competitive and fast teams from across the state, and still maintained a relatively straight path on the water despite the windy conditions and unfamiliar body of water.”

During the race, Boys Varsity Crew team member Noah Castillo (10) focused on staying in sync with the rower in front of him and getting his oar in and out of the water, he said. “Since it was my first time competing, I expected to feel super tired at the end, but it felt a lot quicker than it actually was and I really enjoyed it.”

Keeping the boat level when rowing can be a challenge for the team. “It is difficult to figure out the correct height to keep your oar handle at, especially when you cannot see your partner clearly,” Davis said. “If the handle is too low or too high, the boat can tip towards one side, shifting the balance.”

Girls Varsity Crew team member Francesca Finzi (9) competed on the girls boat with four other members as the team’s coxswain, steering the boat and coordinating the rowers. “I am proud of myself and did everything I could to make sure my boat was functioning smoothly, but I think it was more of a team effort, and everyone performed really well,” Finzi said.

When the boys eight boat came off the water, they were really proud of their performance, Boller said. “The most satisfying thing a coach can have is when they see their athletes finish knowing they did their best, and are happy with themselves.”