Sunday, October 3
Atlantic City, N.J.; Intracoastal Waterway
TBA
Lehigh University
at
Stockton Invitational
Rowing Set to Open Fall Season at Stockton Invitational Sunday
10/1/2021 11:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Ready to hit the water for the first time since last spring, the Lehigh rowing team is eager to open its season at the Stockton Invitational on Sunday. The head-to-head race against Stockton University will take place in Atlantic City, N.J. on the Intracoastal Waterway.
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"There is a lot of excitement to get to race," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "It has been nearly two years since anyone has had an opportunity to race in the fall, so I think there is going to be a lot of learning about what fall racing is. The team is really young this year too, so there is a lot of learning what racing at the collegiate level is going to be like and there is no better way to learn than lining up against another team."
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Like any fall, the beginning of the year season features a lot of teaching, growing and meshing together as collective crews (and the collective team). So far, Conley has liked what he's seen.
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"The team has raised the bar this year on what they want their goals to be," he said. "I am really proud of the leadership our upperclass athletes are providing and just as proud as how the first-years are learning to meet the team expectations too. I think there is still some more development of what their identity is going to be, but one thing is clear… it will be based in a culture of hard work, which in our sport breeds success."
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The Mountain Hawks have plenty of reason for optimism as they look to continue raising the bar. Last May, the Lehigh Women's Varsity Eight finished fourth overall – good for the program's best-ever finish in the V8.
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Going into the fall, and specifically this first race, Conley admitted there's a lot of curiosity of what to expect.
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"We have never formally raced this format of a 'stake race,'" he said. "This kind of racing was very common in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and is something Lehigh does a lot of in our own training because of the short stretch of river we row on. A stake race is where crews are started about every 10 seconds and race to a buoy about 2000 meters out. They have to stop the boat, spin quickly and race back to where they originally started for the finish.Â
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"It will definitely be a fun way to get back in the habit of racing another team."
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Racing on Sunday begins at 9 a.m. and features multiple crews in the Women's Varsity Four (9:30 a.m.), Men's Varsity Four (10:30 a.m.), Men's Eights (11:30 a.m.) and Men's Novice Fours (12:30 p.m.).
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"We always try to keep our goals simple," said Conley. "First and foremost is to race to our best ability. Rowing in mixed lineups forces the athletes to work together and learn on the fly what is going to make them go the fastest. Overall, we should be able to race to a high caliber if we stick to racing within our own boats and not focus too much on the other team."
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Following Sunday's racing, the Mountain Hawks will return to action at the Head of the Housatonic next Saturday (Oct. 9).
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Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"There is a lot of excitement to get to race," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "It has been nearly two years since anyone has had an opportunity to race in the fall, so I think there is going to be a lot of learning about what fall racing is. The team is really young this year too, so there is a lot of learning what racing at the collegiate level is going to be like and there is no better way to learn than lining up against another team."
Â
Like any fall, the beginning of the year season features a lot of teaching, growing and meshing together as collective crews (and the collective team). So far, Conley has liked what he's seen.
Â
"The team has raised the bar this year on what they want their goals to be," he said. "I am really proud of the leadership our upperclass athletes are providing and just as proud as how the first-years are learning to meet the team expectations too. I think there is still some more development of what their identity is going to be, but one thing is clear… it will be based in a culture of hard work, which in our sport breeds success."
Â
The Mountain Hawks have plenty of reason for optimism as they look to continue raising the bar. Last May, the Lehigh Women's Varsity Eight finished fourth overall – good for the program's best-ever finish in the V8.
Â
Going into the fall, and specifically this first race, Conley admitted there's a lot of curiosity of what to expect.
Â
"We have never formally raced this format of a 'stake race,'" he said. "This kind of racing was very common in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and is something Lehigh does a lot of in our own training because of the short stretch of river we row on. A stake race is where crews are started about every 10 seconds and race to a buoy about 2000 meters out. They have to stop the boat, spin quickly and race back to where they originally started for the finish.Â
Â
"It will definitely be a fun way to get back in the habit of racing another team."
Â
Racing on Sunday begins at 9 a.m. and features multiple crews in the Women's Varsity Four (9:30 a.m.), Men's Varsity Four (10:30 a.m.), Men's Eights (11:30 a.m.) and Men's Novice Fours (12:30 p.m.).
 Â
"We always try to keep our goals simple," said Conley. "First and foremost is to race to our best ability. Rowing in mixed lineups forces the athletes to work together and learn on the fly what is going to make them go the fastest. Overall, we should be able to race to a high caliber if we stick to racing within our own boats and not focus too much on the other team."
Â
Following Sunday's racing, the Mountain Hawks will return to action at the Head of the Housatonic next Saturday (Oct. 9).
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Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Rowing Season Preview
Friday, March 28
Lehigh Sports Central: Rowing
Wednesday, April 24
