Bucknell Women's Rowing Journal - Lauren Rambo
11/3/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Nov. 3, 2008
Before coming to Bucknell, I had never rowed or been to a regatta, and I can count the number of times on one had I had been in a boat. My mom's cousin rowed for Fordham and she seemed to enjoy it, so when I got the "Learn-to-Row" brochure in the mail I decided to try it. I thought I'd meet some people and have some kind of new physical activity for three weeks, but I tried not to think too far beyond that point.
The very first practice, I was introduced to "the loop," which is a run around the back of campus - around the soccer fields, up by the golf course, down by the baseball fields and back to the gym. As exhausting as it was, I definitely started bonding with the other girls after that.
Going to the river for the first time was so exciting! I had no idea what to expect or even what to do, but I was ready to learn. During the bus ride to the boat house, we were all chatting about what the afternoon would bring. Absolutely no time was wasted getting us "Learn-to-Row"ers into a boat and on the water. The varsity coxswains were encouraging and patient, which definitely kept everyone calmer. Coach AJ and Coach Derek explained everything clearly and twice if needed. The three weeks were definitely learned by doing not just theory. Probably the most frightening, yet exhilarating part was the day Coach AJ had us stand on the gunnels (the edges) of the boats! When she told us to stand up, I thought she meant figuratively and when I realized she meant literally I didn't know what to think. I'm glad I did stand on the gunnels though. Not many people can say they have done that!
At the end of the three weeks, we raced. The weather was not nice and sunny and calm like all the other days of practice, but a bit chilly with choppy water. Still the team spirit we had developed and the excitement to try racing made that a great day. Coach AJ and Coach Derek handed out accomplishment certificates at the end of practice (I taped mine to my dorm wall), and then when we got back to campus, the Novice team was posted.
I was so excited to start practicing as a real team! The girls on the team all bonded pretty fast. After having three weeks of "splashing around" as Coach Kish would say, we had a friendly bond of a shared experience, but once we became a team and starting working super hard together that bond grew. Now, every night after practice, we take over a long table in the Caf and eat dinner together, or when we see each other walking around campus we always acknowledge each other.
Everything we learned and worked for culminated at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on October 25th. All week, leading up to that Saturday, Coach AJ had us work on unleashing our inner animal and making our rowing a little less pretty and a lot more powerful. Even though a 5:30 am departure from Bucknell would normally not be on my list of fun things, that day it didn't matter how early it was. The excitement made up for being tired. Pulling into Philadelphia and up to the Schuylkill River, the bus became alive with chatter and excitement. There were so many different people and boats and colored spandex shorts! I have never seen anything like it!
As our coxswain worked on pulling the boat in line with the other dozens of boats in our Novice race the anticipation built and built. The weather was not ideal and not very warm, but once the officials told our boat to start, it was like the weather disappeared. All that mattered was putting the oars in the water at the same time, moving like a team, and getting to that finish line. All along the river, groups of Bucknell fans and fellow rowers cheered us on. Almost at the end, we came up on another boat, were head to head, and then passed them! What an adrenaline rush! It made all the pain and pushing and fatigue strip away and leave our inner animals really showing.
Rowing at Bucknell is the best experience I have had so far. Not many people can say they have rowed on the Susquehanna River or the Schuylkill River as their first experiences. I'm so proud of myself and my teammates for pushing new limits and how close we have become in so short a time. `Ray Bucknell!!
- Lauren Rambo '12