Saturday, March 22
Schuylkill River; Philadelphia, Pa.
TBA
Lehigh University
vs
Delaware
Rowing opens spring season on Saturday
3/21/2014 11:27:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh rowing team begins the spring season on Saturday as the men are racing Delaware and the women face Temple, Delaware and Drexel on the Schuylkill River. The Mountain Hawks haven't raced since Nov. 9 when they enjoyed success at the Rutgers Fall Classic.
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"Getting to the first race of the season is both a sense of relief and incredible excitement," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "There's a sense of relief in the sense to know that we have trained hard nonstop for the last several months to get to the season where it matters. It's exciting in the sense that no one truly knows how fast we are or how fast the competition is going to be. A great deal of development of rowers happens during the months between fall racing and spring racing and lineups rarely, if ever, look the same in the spring as they did in the fall. "
More than four months ago was the last time Lehigh hit the water for competition. The Women's Varsity Four highlighted Lehigh's effort at the Rutgers Fall Classic, coming in third place. The final team results were based on the top two boats for a particular school. The Mountain Hawks' A, B and C boats all enjoyed success, coming in fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
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"The team has improved dramatically over this winter," said Conley. "I have seen the most improvement this winter than in previous winters from all members of the team. We have a strong group of rowers that I think will do well this spring."
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Saturday marks a unique event, a dual race rather than a big regatta.
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"We changed our race schedule this year to participate in more what's called dual races because it forces a crew to learn how to win," said Conley. "When you go to the big regattas, it's easy if another team has a fast start to justify going for second because you are still beating four other teams. With a dual race, it really makes it about going for the lead, and that struggle once you have it, to maintain it or increase the lead. Also, none of our races this season are what would be considered an easy race. We decided this year that we were only going to race teams that were going to give us the biggest challenge."
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Saturday's racing begins at 2:36 p.m. with the Women's Varsity Four and ends with the Men's Varsity Four at 3:48 p.m.
"I am hoping we can repeat what we did last year with our first race and come out and surprise everyone with how fast we are," said Conley. "In order for us to do well at the end of the season, every boat needs to have a good race and I think if our athletes can channel their excitement into the oar, they will do really well."
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The Mountain Hawks will return to action next Saturday (Mar. 29) when they compete in the Murphy Cup.
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Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Race Schedule
2:36pm - Women's Varsity 4+"A"
2:48pm - Women's 2nd Varsity 8+
3:00pm - Women's Varsity 8+
3:12pm - Men's Freshmen 4+
3:24pm - Men's Freshmen 8+
3:36pm - Men's Varsity 8+
3:48pm - Men's Varsity 4+
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"Getting to the first race of the season is both a sense of relief and incredible excitement," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "There's a sense of relief in the sense to know that we have trained hard nonstop for the last several months to get to the season where it matters. It's exciting in the sense that no one truly knows how fast we are or how fast the competition is going to be. A great deal of development of rowers happens during the months between fall racing and spring racing and lineups rarely, if ever, look the same in the spring as they did in the fall. "
More than four months ago was the last time Lehigh hit the water for competition. The Women's Varsity Four highlighted Lehigh's effort at the Rutgers Fall Classic, coming in third place. The final team results were based on the top two boats for a particular school. The Mountain Hawks' A, B and C boats all enjoyed success, coming in fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
Â
"The team has improved dramatically over this winter," said Conley. "I have seen the most improvement this winter than in previous winters from all members of the team. We have a strong group of rowers that I think will do well this spring."
Â
Saturday marks a unique event, a dual race rather than a big regatta.
Â
"We changed our race schedule this year to participate in more what's called dual races because it forces a crew to learn how to win," said Conley. "When you go to the big regattas, it's easy if another team has a fast start to justify going for second because you are still beating four other teams. With a dual race, it really makes it about going for the lead, and that struggle once you have it, to maintain it or increase the lead. Also, none of our races this season are what would be considered an easy race. We decided this year that we were only going to race teams that were going to give us the biggest challenge."
Â
Saturday's racing begins at 2:36 p.m. with the Women's Varsity Four and ends with the Men's Varsity Four at 3:48 p.m.
"I am hoping we can repeat what we did last year with our first race and come out and surprise everyone with how fast we are," said Conley. "In order for us to do well at the end of the season, every boat needs to have a good race and I think if our athletes can channel their excitement into the oar, they will do really well."
Â
The Mountain Hawks will return to action next Saturday (Mar. 29) when they compete in the Murphy Cup.
Â
Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Â
Race Schedule
2:36pm - Women's Varsity 4+"A"
2:48pm - Women's 2nd Varsity 8+
3:00pm - Women's Varsity 8+
3:12pm - Men's Freshmen 4+
3:24pm - Men's Freshmen 8+
3:36pm - Men's Varsity 8+
3:48pm - Men's Varsity 4+
Rowing Season Preview
Friday, March 28
Lehigh Sports Central: Rowing
Wednesday, April 24
