June 13, 2006

Henley-on-Thames, England-For the first event, the Varsity 4+ automatically advanced to the second round, leaving us with a break before competing in the 8+ race. Like yesterday, we raced University College-Dublin (UCD), who demonstrated strength and endurance by winning the 4+ and 8+ events in the same afternoon. Although we lost to UCD in the 8+, we made significant improvements, which will only help us for Henley next weekend.

In the semifinal of the 4+, we competed against Main Line rival St Joseph's. Funny to think that we both traveled 6,000 miles only to race each other. The four, composed of Katie Neugold (coxswaine) and four senior rowers, Christina Baumgardner (stroke), Meg Walsh (3), Elysse Voyer (2), and myself (bow) advanced to final by beating St. Joseph's. It was a great feeling to win that race by open water. Recently, at Dad Vails this year, St. Joseph's 8+ won the Championship, edging us by 2 seconds. So at the starting line today, we channeled our tenacity and we able to advance.

Similar to our previous races, the four competed against powerhouse, UCD, head-to-head in the final. We sat at the starting line in anticipation for our opposition when our stroke noted that it was our last chance to race the four together as Villanovans since we all graduated two weeks ago. Maybe I'm a bit emotional, as all of my teammates know, but I promised to make the tears that were accumulating in my eyes into tears of happiness as we raced down the course.

It was a solid race with UCD nearly 2 seats behind us for the entire stretch. We know what it's like to lose by tenths of a second and were determined to not let it happen again. A teammate of mine, Taylor Malloy, wears a shirt that reads, "Dig deep into your heart ... And, pass that energy onto your teammates." And, with every stroke and moment of fatigue, I drove down my legs reciting the phrase and remembered why I love rowing for Villanova. As we crossed the finish line and cheered "Hip Hip Hooray" for UCD, as the British do, I know our speed was becoming apparent.

We won the four event in a time of 4:06 with UCD about two seats behind us (approximately six feet). Rowing in the four is a different dynamic than the eight. These girls are my roommates, best friends, and teammates. With the experience of this past weekend, the excitement in our heats, and one last chance to race together, we hope to make this next week the cumulation of our college rowing experience.