BRUNSWICK, Maine —Bowdoin Rowing held a banquet last Sunday evening to celebrate, laugh about, and relish in, a successful Fall season. We feel accomplished as a competitive force, but moreover, as a warm, vibrant, growing community.
Bowdoin Rowing practiced vigorously on and off the water this Fall. We enjoyed five water practices and two lifts per week, and had many members put in extra work on the ergs. Novice turnout this year was impressive; a total of 28 new members completed the season from start to finish. Between the many new novices and the myriad returning varsity members, the team is bigger than it has ever been in recent history— flaunting a grand total of 84 members (about 5% of all of Bowdoin).
To our great excitement, the hard work and record participation all paid off. The crew team excelled this Fall. From our amiable kick off at the Cow Island Classic where we competed with local high school teams, to our success at the Textile River Regatta where several of our boats finished first, to our great triumph at the Head of the Charles where our Men’s 1V medaled with a 4th place finish— this season has been deeply rewarding.
While much of that reward was reaped through athletic success, as much if not more came in the form of joy, community, and family. We often call ourselves a “Bowdoin Rowing Family,” because that’s truly how we feel about each other. When you give everyday to a cause bigger than yourself— to a race, to a team, to a goal, to a dream— you become that bigger cause. For us, that bigger cause is each other— the trust, camaraderie, and love we share.
This season we made the most of that bond. We enjoyed several outings, from sailing with Ry and Tom, to apple picking at Rocky Ridge Orchard, to bowling at Yankee Lanes, to hiking at Mount Megunticook, to spontaneous dance parties, to movie nights, to so much more. We feel so lucky to be on a team where we can trust each other to put everything into competition, but still have fun on the way.
The fun certainly climaxed at our final event of the year— the annual Coxswains Cup Regatta— where we mix all the boats (blending varsity and novice athletes as well as the men’s and women’s sides), dress up in crazy outfits, and struggle through some rough sprints in search of the legendary prize, the holy grail or rowing: the Coxswain’s cup. This year “Buglas Lamm” took the prize for greatest theatrical performance, and “Easter” won the race itself to claim the cup.
One of the best parts about rowing is that it really never ends. With the conclusion of the Fall season, we have launched straight into winter training. This year we’re practicing six days a week, so watch out Dad Vail crews! Bowdoin Rowing is looking for gold.