The Bowdoin Orient

April 6, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 20

Polar Bear rowers ready for the water

by LAUREN MCNALLY, STAFF WRITER

   I'm not gonna lie, I knew absolutely nothing about crew before I decided to write about it for the spring sports section of "The Oldest Continuously Published College Weekly in the United States" or something like that. So I sat down with the men's team captain William LoVerme '02 in an attempt to gain a b.s.-worthy knowledge of the sport so I could at least give credit to the rowers that deserved such. Here's a preview of the 2001 spring rowing season.
   In case you faithful readers haven't noticed, Maine is experiencing a shortage of bare ground and grass, more so than normal for this time of year. The calendar claims 'tis the season for budding flowers, chirping birds, mosquitos, hatching chicks and all that; however, many of the spring sports teams at Bowdoin have suffered from the mass accumulation of snow that refuses to melt. For sports such as lacrosse and tennis, the athletes have been able to practice indoors at Farley Field House.
   However, the unfortunate crew team was unable to get on the water until the second week of spring break, due to the fact that the river was still frozen. "This is the longest we've ever had to stay on the erg [machine]," stated LoVerme. Because of this, continued LoVerme, the team is still working on technique in preparation for the upcoming spring sprint season.
   The Bears lost two important rowers to graduation last spring, Will Colvin '00 (6'9", 220 lbs), and Dave Thomas '00 (6'4", 210 lbs). LoVerme noted that due to this fact the men's V1 boat is smaller in size than it was last spring, with an average height of 6'1" and an average weight of 180 lbs. The men's team finished the fall season with a 52-1 record, not including Head of the Charles. Rowing in the men's V1 Stroke: Will LoVerme '02, 3: Tyler Lang '03, 2: Gordon Clarke '03, bow: Tom Scifres '03, with Leah Chernikoff '04 as coxswain. Rowing in the men's N1: stroke: Tom Ricciardi '04, 3: Colin Drake '04, 2: Elliot Jacobs '04, bow: Chad Pelton 04, with coxswain Juleah Swanson '04.
   Approaching the spring season, the men's team has many titles to defend, and we're much smaller [in physical size] than we were last year" said LoVerme. "If we can nail down the technique and get our stroke rate back up, we should be in great shape this season. We've done the conditioning, now we need to apply the technique." This remains a challenge to the team, due to uncontrollable conditions [the frozen river], but the team remains optimistic.
   The women's team had high hopes in the fall and finished the season 33-14. They meet the spring season with many injuries. Due to these injuries, a few changed have occurred in the boat rosters. The women's V1 roster is as follows: Stroke: captain Erin Jaworski '01, 3: captain Kelly Ricciardi '01, 2: Lindsey Sortor '02, bow: Abby Lockwood '01, with Mary Miner '02 as coxswain. In the women's N1: stroke: Sadie Anderson '04, 3: Jackie Templeton '03, 2: Alison McConnell '04, bow: Alicia Smith '04, with Katie Smith '03 as coxswain. Ricciardi comments on the team's attitude towards the spring season: "While there have been some difficulties with injuries and illnesses over the past few weeks, it has been great to see the effort and poise shown by many people on the team who have had to move up and fill some pretty big shoes. I am looking forward to another incredible, successful season!"
   The spring crew season includes three early season races and three championship races. On April 7, the team heads to Lake Quinsigamond, in Massachussetts, to compete against Assumption and the Vermont schools.
   With the cold and the rest, hopefully the races'll run. Tell me again why I go to school in Maine. Erg.

A scenic mid-afternoon meet.
(File Photo/Bowdoin Orient)