The Eastern Michigan University women’s rowing team spent its winter break in Clemson, S.C., kicking off the spring season with a week-long training session and competition March 9 on Lake Hartwell against Clemson and Duke universities.
Although EMU didn’t beat the other two teams, EMU senior Lauren Foley believes the team was faster than last year.
“The boat chemistry was great, and the race really felt amazing compared to most races I’ve had,” Foley said.
Foley competed in the top EMU boat, which marked at 7 minutes, 29.9 seconds. Duke took first with 6:44.5 and Clemson came just behind with 6:45.4.
The boat also consisted of seniors Taylor Cyr and KC Anderson, redshirt junior Rachel Morrissey, sophomores Emily Kent and Lyndsey Tollas, redshirt sophomore Stacey Cloutier, freshman Ashley Gilmore and junior Sarah Hillegonds as the coxswain.
“I think there’s always something you can improve on,” Foley said. “And in order to do that we’re just gonna have to practice hard every day, and go do the job we know we have to do when race time rolls around again.”
The novice boat also came behind Duke and Clemson with a time of 8:56.9. The coxswain was freshman Tauan Jeffrey. In her boat were Rebecca Sear, Claire Hester, Theodora Robinson-Jones, Stephanie Beck, Danielle Keen, Spencer Sturgis, Lucy Jordan and Elizabeth Sturgis.
The rowers will travel to Tennessee to compete in the Oak Ridge Invitational March 16-17.
“We have a young, strong, fast and very close team, and I think the combination of those will produce some great results,” Foley said. “I’m extremely excited to see what we are capable of this season.”
