The Beginning of Spring Crew

By Maggie Houseman

Last year’s crew team in action 

The end of winter and beginning of spring can mean only one thing: a new sports season. One of the many new sports seasons starting is spring crew, also known as rowing. In crew, team members pull (row) a boat, racing against other teams at their competitions, regattas.

Pulling these boats at regattas demands a lot physically. Crew members practice 5 days a week, for nearly 3 hours a day, in order to stay in shape for the sport. Before they can get out on the water, members work inside on ergs (short for rowing ergometer), or rowing machines. Working on these machines, otherwise known as “erging,” allows members to imitate what pulling a boat feels like and to strengthen the necessary muscles.

According to sophomore Jessica Kurtycz, erging and rowing require “mostly hard leg work, it’s a leg sport.” She says that even though the workout is tough, “it will be worth it to have the medal around your neck.” Rowers will spend the next few weeks or so preparing nonstop for April 14, the date that marks the beginning of their competition season.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Kurtycz

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